Team USA men's and women's basketball are neck and neck when it comes to dominance on the Olympic stage.
But when it comes to finances, they're worlds apart.
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According toForbes' calculations, the USA's 12-man roster has earned a collective $2.5 billion during their time in the NBA - with LeBron James leading the way with $479.5 million career earnings and Kevin Durant second with $396.7 million.
Compare that to Team USA women's basketball's 12-woman roster, which has collectively earned just $9.3 million in WNBA earnings (according to Sportrac) - 269 times less than what their male counterparts have earned on-court during their careers.
LeBron's net worth is valued at $1.2 billion and he's easily outpacedMichael Jordanin NBAcontract value.
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Then there'sSteph Curry, who's appearing in hisfirst Olympicsand has already earned more than $354 million while winning four NBA championships with theGolden State Warriors.
Anthony Davis has made $266 million in his NBA career and Devin Bookerhas collected a cool $166 million.
Reigning NBA champJayson Tatum has made $120 million, thus far, but will reach $439 million if he plays out his current contract with theBoston Celtics.
Joel Embiid ($214 million), Jrue Holiday ($256 million), Bam Adebayo ($104 million), Derrick White ($60 million), Anthony Edwards ($44 million), and Tyrese Haliburton ($17 million) round out the rest of the men's eye-popping basketball earnings.
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To say the US women's WNBA earnings are paltry in comparison would be an understatement.
Haliburton, a two-time NBA All-Star for the relatively small market Indiana Pacers, has effectively earned twice the amount the entire Team USA women's roster has in the WNBA.
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TEAM USA BASKETBALL'S NBA EARNINGS
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers): $479,466,457
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns): $396,705,024
Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors): $354,721,977
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers): $266,608,394
Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics): $256,749,232
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers): $214,429,387
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns): $166,532,853
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics): $120,639,285
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat): $104,855,232
Derrick White (Boston Celtics): $60,092,940
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves): $44,271,137
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers): $17,878,995
TOTAL: $2,482,950,913
Brittney Griner, a 10-time WNBA All-Star and one of Time Magazine's100 most influential people in the world in 2023, leads the way for the women with $1.16 million in career earnings.
42-year-old Diana Taurasi, who is bidding for a sixth straight Olympic gold medal, is second with $1.15 million.
Five-time WNBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas has made $963k while Breanna Stewart, one of the top 25 players of the WNBA's first 25 years, has made $943k during her professional career.
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Chelsea Gray is next with $903k, followed by Kahleah Copper ($847k), Jewell Loyd ($821k), Kelsey Plum ($733k), A'ja Wilson ($631k), Napheesa Collier ($439k), Jackie Young ($407k), and Sabrina Ionescu ($300k), bringing their total WNBA earnings to $9.3 million.
In theNBA, playerstook home an average annual salary ofover 12 million US dollarsfor the 2023/24 season, while the average WNBA salary is just over $100k.
Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young is the highest earner in the W, making $252,420 a year going into 2024. Compare that to the NBA's highest earner last season, Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, who topped the salary charts at $55.2 million.
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TEAM USA WOMEN'S WNBA EARNINGS
Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury): $1,168,450
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury): $1,150,480
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun): $963,000
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): $943,450
Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces): $903,084
Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury): $847,270
Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm): $821,530
Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces): $733,759
A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces): $631,642
Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx): $439,544
Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces): $407,747
Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty): $300,358
TOTAL: $9,310,314
The financial disparity between the top men's and women's professional basketball leagues in the world has been a controversial issue for many years.
Change was always expected to be slow, but college basketball superstar Caitlin Clark brought fresh optimism that positive strides could be imminent when she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever earlier this year.
The 22-year-old has long been viewed as a pioneer for women's basketball -- and women's sport in general -- and that her arrival could be a real watershed moment for the WNBA.
The positive signs were there from the get-go; Indiana Fever home tickets were the hottest in town, Clark's jersey sold out in record time, and the WNBA's TV viewership -- helped by Clark's rivalry with fellow rookie Angel Reese -- went through the roof.
But even with Clarkmania in full effect, the league's financial shortcomings are abundantly clear.
The former Hawkeyes sharpshooter is set to earn $338,056 over her first four years as pro, according to the WNBA’scollective bargaining agreement (CBA).
While Clark is expected to make millions more in endorsem*nts, her actual pro contract is pocket change compared to what her male counterparts make in the NBA.
For example, French phenom Victor Wembanyama signed a $55 million four-year contract as a rookie in 2023, which saw him earn $12.1 million in his debut season.
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News of Clark's rookie contract caused widespread outrage at the time. Numerous prominent people called for more to be done to bridge the gap between men's and women's pay in pro basketball.
President Joe Biden posted, "Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all."
"But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share," he said. "It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.
A key reason given for the glaring pay disparity between the two league's is the WNBA's lower revenue.
Last year, the WNBA was projected to make $180 million to $200 million for the 2023 season while the NBA recently generated anestimated $10 billionfor one season.
The WNBA also plays a shorter 40-game, four-month season compared to the NBA’s six months, and has only been around for 28 years compared to the NBA's 72.
It also has less teams -- although it's reportedly looking to expand to 16 teams by 2028 -- makes significantly less in media rights, and has worse revenue sharing between league and player contract, set out in the CBA (which was signed by WNBA players).
However, there's plenty of reasons to be hopeful.
The WNBA’s recent CBA started in 2020 and runs through 2027, but there is an option to opt out of the agreement earlier.
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It seems increasingly likely players will opt out of the current CBA meaning they will be able to renegotiate better terms and pay off the back of the new wave of interest around the WNBA.
There's also a new media rights dealon the horizon, a potentially game-changing move forWNBAplayers and teams who are preparing for a new lucrative era starting in 2026.
