WNBA pay gap spotlighted as All-Star prize money rises and student survey backs equal salaries

A new collective bargaining agreement has raised the WNBA All-Star Game payouts dramatically. Starting in 2026 each of the 24 All‑Stars will receive $15,000, up from $2,575, and the MVP prize will increase to $20,000. The league will also award $70,000 to a charity chosen by the winning team and $30,000 to the runner‑up’s charity.

At ‘Iolani School, a survey of 163 students found that 76.7% view the NBA‑WNBA salary gap as a problem. Nearly half (49.1%) say WNBA players should be paid the same as NBA players, while 39.9% think they should be paid less. Respondents cited revenue, viewership and sponsorship differences as reasons for the current disparity.