The sports world is buzzing with speculation after reports surfaced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is exploring the creation of a global women’s basketball league—with offers that could dwarf current WNBA salaries.
The possibility of a Saudi-funded alternative has raised one burning question: will WNBA players actually leave the league for the promise of massive paychecks overseas? What once seemed far-fetched is now a serious topic of conversation inside locker rooms, agent offices, and league headquarters.
For years, WNBA players have been vocal about one thing—fair pay. Despite the league’s growth and rising popularity, the salary gap between the WNBA and other professional leagues remains staggering. The maximum WNBA salary sits at around $250,000 per year, while many players can earn well over a million dollars playing overseas in countries like Russia, Turkey, or China.
The WNBA’s top stars—such as Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark—have endorsement deals that help bridge the gap, but for most players, financial security often means supplementing their income abroad. Now, with Saudi Arabia’s immense financial resources entering the equation, the incentive to leave could become too big to ignore.
Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the same fund behind the LIV Golf Tour and major soccer acquisitions, is backing a $5 billion basketball initiative that includes both men’s and women’s divisions. The women’s side of the project is reportedly aimed at recruiting top global talent by offering contracts worth several times more than WNBA salaries. If even a portion of that funding is directed toward women’s basketball, it could radically reshape the global sports economy—and force the WNBA to reckon with its long-standing financial model.
The lure of money isn’t the only factor driving speculation. Many WNBA players are already accustomed to playing abroad during the offseason, so the concept of joining an international league isn’t foreign. For example, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Breanna Stewart have all spent seasons playing overseas for lucrative contracts.
Before her 2022 detainment, Griner was reportedly earning over $1 million per season in Russia—nearly five times her WNBA salary at the time. This new Saudi-funded league could offer even higher figures, with tax-free income, top-tier facilities, and luxury living conditions. For players who’ve spent years fighting for recognition and fair pay, that’s an opportunity that’s hard to dismiss.
However, not everyone is convinced the move would be worth it. The WNBA has something that no other league can replicate: history, legacy, and cultural importance. It’s not just a basketball league—it’s a movement built on decades of advocacy, representation, and equality.
The league’s identity has always been tied to progress, inclusion, and empowerment. Playing in a Saudi-backed league, given the country’s human rights record and restrictions on women’s freedoms, would raise complex moral and political questions. Critics argue that it would amount to “sportswashing”—using high-profile sports investments to improve global reputation while masking social issues at home.
Yet, as seen with other sports, money often speaks louder than politics. When Saudi Arabia launched LIV Golf, many top PGA players initially dismissed it—until multimillion-dollar offers changed their tune. Soccer has experienced a similar shift, with global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar joining Saudi clubs for record-breaking sums. If the same strategy is applied to women’s basketball, it could become impossible for players to ignore. Imagine a mid-tier
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