Diana Taurasi Touts Communist Countries In Rant For More WNBA Pay<\/p>\n
Taurasi, the retired WNBA star, went on an off-target tirade, featured in a clip from her upcoming Prime Video documentary, set to release Thursday, whining about playing overseas and earning more from “communists” than in America.<\/p>\n
RELATED: WNBA Players Are Asking For More Money \u2014 Here’s Why It\u2019s Not As Crazy As You Think<\/a><\/p>\n “The f**king janitor at the arena made more than me,” Taurasi scoffed, slamming WNBA salaries as pitifully low.\u00a0<\/p>\n The promo clip for Taurasi’s Prime Video docuseries, likely padding her wallet, added more irony to her pay complaints.<\/p>\n Taurasi also threw in an absurd tangent about earning more in a “communist” country, and conveniently forgetting her league\u2019s lagging revenue.\u00a0<\/p>\n READ: WNBA\u2019s Browbeating Continues As Atlanta Dream\u2019s \u2018Pay Some Respect To Women\u2019s Sports\u2019 Court Draws Eye Rolls<\/a><\/p>\n “I\u2019m the best player in the world, and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist,” Taurasi griped.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We weren\u2019t making that much, so generational wealth came from Russia every year. Now we come home, get paid nothing, play in a tougher league, in worse conditions, against the best competition.”<\/p>\n Russia’s economy is not considered communist.<\/p>\n And despite a record-breaking 2024 season for viewership and attendance, the WNBA hemorrhaged $50 million last year. In its 29-season history, the league has never turned a profit.<\/p>\n Gold medalist Diana Taurasi of Team United States holds up the number six, signifying her sixth Olympics gold medal, while posing for a photo during the Women’s basketball medal ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Fueled by Caitlin Clark\u2019s popularity, the WNBA committed $50 million over two years to a charter flight program, further straining its budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n Amid a popularity boom, largely thanks to Caitlin Clark, WNBA players and figures have amplified their pay protests.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the 2025 All-Star Game, players donned “Pay Us What You Owe Us” <\/a>T-shirts during warmups, doubling down on their demands.<\/p>\n WNBA players pocket just close to 10 percent of league revenue, compared to the NBA\u2019s 50 percent split.<\/p>\n These escalating calls for higher pay loom large over CBA talks, with a potential lockout looming if the WNBA and players\u2019 association don\u2019t strike a new deal by October 31, 2025.<\/p>\n The WNBA is in a unique position to either take off or crash and burn after going all in with the next generation of talent.<\/p>\n Diana Taurasi. (Photo by Mike Lawrie\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com<\/a> \/ Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-2166342999-594x594-1.jpg\")
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