[Griffins78]

Congratulations to Nneka and the Ogwumike family!

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/78203...wnba-draft

[Griffins78]

Congratulations to Nneka and the Ogwumike family!

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/78203...wnba-draft

[Nan3cy]

What an incredibly poised young woman she is. I had a brief conversation with her and Chiney in the grocery store a few months ago, and they were very cordial and happy to talk with a geezer fan.

[Nan3cy]

What an incredibly poised young woman she is. I had a brief conversation with her and Chiney in the grocery store a few months ago, and they were very cordial and happy to talk with a geezer fan.

[fullmetal]

Here's the AD press release: http://www.gostanford.com/sports/w-baskb...12aaa.html

Congrats!

[fullmetal]

Here's the AD press release: http://www.gostanford.com/sports/w-baskb...12aaa.html

Congrats!

[stanfan]

I was curious what Nneka will be paid as the #1 pick.  If I read the WNBA collective bargaining agreement correctly, her base pay is less than $48,000.  Anyone have any idea what her total compensation is likely to be?  At $48,000, she's not in it for the money.

[stanfan]

I was curious what Nneka will be paid as the #1 pick.  If I read the WNBA collective bargaining agreement correctly, her base pay is less than $48,000.  Anyone have any idea what her total compensation is likely to be?  At $48,000, she's not in it for the money.

[stanfan]

Garvin, that's no doubt true, but my guess is that Nneka could get a job at substantially more than $48k doing something other than playing basketball. 

[stanfan]

Garvin, that's no doubt true, but my guess is that Nneka could get a job at substantially more than $48k doing something other than playing basketball. 

[CompSci87]

Congratulations to Nneka and the Ogwumike family!

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/78203...wnba-draft

Be sure to watch all the videos of Nneka there. There are four, IIRC.

[CompSci87]

Congratulations to Nneka and the Ogwumike family!

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/78203...wnba-draft

Be sure to watch all the videos of Nneka there. There are four, IIRC.

[jayasena]

Garvin, that's no doubt true, but my guess is that Nneka could get a job at substantially more than $48k doing something other than playing basketball.

Didn't last year's #1 pick, Maya Moore, reportedly sign an endorsement with Jordan estimated at a few million a year? I realize that's not the norm for women in team sports but at least it suggests there's potential for decent financial prospects for high draft picks in the WNBA.

[jayasena]

Garvin, that's no doubt true, but my guess is that Nneka could get a job at substantially more than $48k doing something other than playing basketball.

Didn't last year's #1 pick, Maya Moore, reportedly sign an endorsement with Jordan estimated at a few million a year? I realize that's not the norm for women in team sports but at least it suggests there's potential for decent financial prospects for high draft picks in the WNBA.

[Griffins78]

Also it is pay for just a few months with the WNBA. Many women play overseas for higher pay.

[Griffins78]

Also it is pay for just a few months with the WNBA. Many women play overseas for higher pay.

[fullmetal]

Engineering's not bad.  Ask Andrew Luck...oh wait :p

[fullmetal]

Engineering's not bad.  Ask Andrew Luck...oh wait :p

[jayasena]

According to the Stanford Career Development Center's statistics (http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/cdc/j...lary-grads), the average starting salary for a Psychology BS grad was $46,271. The reported low and high were $6000 and $75000.

Take it with a grain of salt though -- Psychology data is based on only 11 respondents (and that min and max makes me think there were some outliers).

[jayasena]

According to the Stanford Career Development Center's statistics (http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/cdc/j...lary-grads), the average starting salary for a Psychology BS grad was $46,271. The reported low and high were $6000 and $75000.

Take it with a grain of salt though -- Psychology data is based on only 11 respondents (and that min and max makes me think there were some outliers).

[yvonne]

Too bad there's no median listed. That would have shed more light.

[yvonne]

Too bad there's no median listed. That would have shed more light.

[Farm93]

But Nneka's $48K is literally for a seasonal job, not an annual salary.  If her work was annualized she would make more than $48K per year.  Most star WNBAers would easily increase their annual take home pay with international play.

I believe Nneka will elect to stay in the USA so that she can get a masters.  So Nneka's $48K is something equivalent to the pay for a summer internship.  How many Stanford students are expecting to make $48K for a summer internship?

Besides, the WNBA must be about more than money for the players.  Each WNBA star is a role model for young girls in so many ways.  An office job probably would never match up to that opportunity to influence.

[Farm93]

But Nneka's $48K is literally for a seasonal job, not an annual salary.  If her work was annualized she would make more than $48K per year.  Most star WNBAers would easily increase their annual take home pay with international play.

I believe Nneka will elect to stay in the USA so that she can get a masters.  So Nneka's $48K is something equivalent to the pay for a summer internship.  How many Stanford students are expecting to make $48K for a summer internship?

Besides, the WNBA must be about more than money for the players.  Each WNBA star is a role model for young girls in so many ways.  An office job probably would never match up to that opportunity to influence.

[81alum]

For 2012-13, the (male) rookie picked first in the NBA will make $4,286, 900.  That kind of gross gender disparity unsettles me.  But my guess is there is little appetite for pursuing that discouraging line of discussion. 

[81alum]

For 2012-13, the (male) rookie picked first in the NBA will make $4,286, 900.  That kind of gross gender disparity unsettles me.  But my guess is there is little appetite for pursuing that discouraging line of discussion. 

[Roberton3]

When WNBA games start drawing crowds and signing TV deals like the ones the men get, it will start paying salaries like the ones the men pay. A $4 million salary in the WNBA would bankrupt whatever team agreed to pay it.

Sure.  It's obvious that the WNBA won't (and can't) pay anywhere near as much as the NBA, given the current disparity in audience interest.  But it's unfortunate (and a bit worrisome) that the disparity in audience interest is so big. 

[Roberton3]

When WNBA games start drawing crowds and signing TV deals like the ones the men get, it will start paying salaries like the ones the men pay. A $4 million salary in the WNBA would bankrupt whatever team agreed to pay it.

Sure.  It's obvious that the WNBA won't (and can't) pay anywhere near as much as the NBA, given the current disparity in audience interest.  But it's unfortunate (and a bit worrisome) that the disparity in audience interest is so big. 

[CompSci87]

Pro sports is an entertainment industry, and there's no way to legislate or moralize people into finding the men's and women's versions of a sport equally entertaining.

Is anyone upset that the women's pro football league doesn't even exist, much less have equal pay to the NFL? Should they be?

[CompSci87]

Pro sports is an entertainment industry, and there's no way to legislate or moralize people into finding the men's and women's versions of a sport equally entertaining.

Is anyone upset that the women's pro football league doesn't even exist, much less have equal pay to the NFL? Should they be?

[Farm93]

Female models make many times more than male models.  Male movie stars make more than their female co-stars.  MLS players make a fraction of MLB players.  Female gymnasts and female ice skaters both make more than their male colleagues.

When ticket sales and popularity drive profits and salaries one needs to accept a bit of apparent inequality.  Speaking of inequality, there are probably a lot of female college students that love basketball, but because they are not 6'+ the WNBA never calls on them despite their love of the game and willingness to play for <<$48K per season.

[Farm93]

Female models make many times more than male models.  Male movie stars make more than their female co-stars.  MLS players make a fraction of MLB players.  Female gymnasts and female ice skaters both make more than their male colleagues.

When ticket sales and popularity drive profits and salaries one needs to accept a bit of apparent inequality.  Speaking of inequality, there are probably a lot of female college students that love basketball, but because they are not 6'+ the WNBA never calls on them despite their love of the game and willingness to play for <<$48K per season.

[Roberton3]

Pro sports is an entertainment industry, and there's no way to legislate or moralize people into finding the men's and women's versions of a sport equally entertaining.

I didn't say we should.  I think the world would be a better place if the WNBA had more fan interest and the NBA had less fan interest, and it bothers me that the gap in fan interest is as big as it is.  I think a big part of that difference reflects genuine differences in athletic ability and overall quality of play -- which is fine.  But part of it also reflects fans who don't really understand basketball, so they love watching dunks, but can't appreciate a well-executed pick and roll.  And at least a small part of it is simply sexism.  And those latter two parts bother me (for very different reasons).  I'm not sure there's anything that can be done about that.  And I certainly don't think legislation would be a good idea.  But I still don't like it.

[Roberton3]

Pro sports is an entertainment industry, and there's no way to legislate or moralize people into finding the men's and women's versions of a sport equally entertaining.

I didn't say we should.  I think the world would be a better place if the WNBA had more fan interest and the NBA had less fan interest, and it bothers me that the gap in fan interest is as big as it is.  I think a big part of that difference reflects genuine differences in athletic ability and overall quality of play -- which is fine.  But part of it also reflects fans who don't really understand basketball, so they love watching dunks, but can't appreciate a well-executed pick and roll.  And at least a small part of it is simply sexism.  And those latter two parts bother me (for very different reasons).  I'm not sure there's anything that can be done about that.  And I certainly don't think legislation would be a good idea.  But I still don't like it.

[LuckE2Bhere]

I love watching our women's team play, especially against top-tier competition, but have to admit that the sport is far less appealing than the men's game in my view, due primarily to the lack of parity (previously discussed at length on this board) and I'd even say the often-disappointing "below the rim" skills that I see from most teams.  You shouldn't have to be as tall or strong as a man to handle the ball well, but that gap in athleticism seems to extend to fine motor skills in this game as well.

[LuckE2Bhere]

I love watching our women's team play, especially against top-tier competition, but have to admit that the sport is far less appealing than the men's game in my view, due primarily to the lack of parity (previously discussed at length on this board) and I'd even say the often-disappointing "below the rim" skills that I see from most teams.  You shouldn't have to be as tall or strong as a man to handle the ball well, but that gap in athleticism seems to extend to fine motor skills in this game as well.