Leveling the Playing Field: Pay Equity
““Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs, and I want women to have the cake, the icing and the cherry on top, too.””
Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time, at the world championships, with 25 total medals. Long-distance runner Brigid Kosgei ran 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds, breaking the women's world marathon record. The United States women's national soccer team won the 2019 World Cup for the 4th time in its history.
And yet, women athletes continue to make less money than their male counterparts. In fact, according to a pay equity lawsuit, the U.S. women's soccer team, played more games and brought in more revenue in 2017 than the men, yet U.S. Soccer still paid the women significantly less. The pay gap in basketball is much worse. Last summer, A'ja Wilson, a star rookie who was the No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick in 2018. Wilson earned about $53,000 that season. The top NBA draft pick last year, Deandre Ayton, is expected to earn $6.8 million in his first year.
This lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women's Soccer Team is a part of a larger movement to close the pay equity gap between women and men. As women, particularly women of color, we support these efforts. When we first heard about the lawsuit and facts regarding women athletes' salaries, we were taken back. Don't get us wrong, we knew inequities existed, but we did not anticipate the levels of disparity in the sports world.
Nia Dennis, 2019 UCLA Gymnastics
College Athletics
In September 2019, California's governor Gavin Newsom passed the Fair Pay to Play Act. Last year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) brought in $1 billion in revenue from media rights fees, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and television ads anchored around March Madness, a three-week-long tournament. Although this funding gets divided among participating Division I schools, and the formula may vary, one thing remains the same: the player earns nothing.
The Fair Pay to Play Act allows student-athletes in the state of California to be compensated for the use of their names, images, and likeness (NIL). Additionally, it would prohibit California universities and the NCAA from banning athletes who take the money or revoking an athlete's scholarship. It's important to note that schools won't pay athletes, but student-athletes can hire agents to seek out business deals for them.
Although this law does not go into effect until 2023, we can't help but wonder if this will level the playing field and raise the earning potential of all professional women athletes. Cecelia Townes, wrote a great article on Forbes.com, answering this very question. The Fair Pay to Play Act provides an even playing field for student–athletes who bring in millions of dollars for college athletics, yet receive no compensation in return. In the article, Townes states, "Compensation for the use of a student-athletes' NIL offers women the opportunity to earn in spaces that were, at one time, not possible or significantly limited." She then gives great examples of how women, who were star college athletes and went on to make a name for themselves, could have benefited from this very law.
Mo’Nae Davis, first female to play in the Little League World Series
Weighing In…
What caught our attention (and makes us a bit upset) are how athletic scholarships limits students from making an impact or building their brand at an early age. Remember Mo'Nae Davis? Mo'Nae played in the 2014 Little League World Series and was the first girl to earn a win and to pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history. She is now enrolled at Hampton University as an NCAA athlete. However, NCAA rules prevent athletes from earning endorsement and appearance fees. There is no path forward for Mo'Nae as a professional softball player, but let's say Mo'Nae wanted to establish a summer camp for your female softball players. She would be prohibited in using her likeness to earn money in that way.
There are a lot of complexities with this new law and the culture of inequity won't change overnight, but the conversation matters. When the conversation first started, one of us honestly felt like these athletes already receive a free education and that is already a huge advantage. After reading more on the law and how college athletes are restricted, her mind has changed. Not having an even playing field and having limitations on how you can use your talent and brand is problematic for these athletes who put in hard work, dedication and time constantly to balance school and play.
The water will continue to be murky for a long time to come, but where do you fall on the issue? What does pay equity look like for female athletes and will the Fair Play Act change standards for these athletes beyond college? Sound off in the comments!