By Agbai Sharonjoyce
The debate over equal pay in professional sports has become a global matter. Despite the growing achievements of women across various sports, the pay gap between male and female athletes remains striking. This raises a critical question: Do female professional athletes deserve the same pay as their male counterparts?
The discrepancy is evident across major sports. In basketball, for instance, salaries in the National Basketball Association (NBA) are relatively higher than those in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). This gap persists in sports where women consistently excel.
A popular instance is the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Despite winning numerous World Cup titles—and also generating more revenue than the men’s team—women players are still paid significantly less. This proves that success alone does not guarantee fair pay.
Tennis is one of the few sports that has made notable progress through equal prize money at major tournaments. However, the gap remains in smaller competitions and in overall earnings from sponsorships.
Why the gap exist
The pay gap is not tied to performance. Instead, it is rooted in long-standing structural and cultural issues within the sports industry.
Start with media coverage. Men’s sports receive far more attention. Research shows that sports news features men’s events nearly five times more than women’s. Even when female athletes are covered, the spotlight often shifts to their personal lives rather than their skills. With less visibility comes fewer fans and lower perceived value.
Because of limited exposure, women’s sports attract fewer major sponsors. Sponsorships make up a huge part of athletes’ income, and brands often favour men’s sports due to larger audiences and more frequent airtime.
For decades, sports organisations have been dominated by male leadership. Traditional views have created outdated payment structures that reinforce gender inequality. Funding, advertising and promotion are mostly directed towards the men’s sports, broadening the gap.
Bridging the gap
Achieving equal pay in sports requires legal, institutional and cultural action.
Strengthening legal protections can help to improve such gaps. For instance, Title IX in the U.S. and the Equality Act in the U.K. help women challenge unfair pay and hold sports bodies accountable.
Also, sports organisations must make pay systems transparent, enforce equality policies and provide leadership and mentorship opportunities for women. What’s more, increasing media coverage for women and promoting female athletes as serious professionals are essential.
To fully stop the pay gap, organisations must handle the structural, financial and cultural barriers that clip women’s progress.
More investment in women’s sports will enhance their visibility, attract more revenue and ultimately lead to fairer pay.
Equality in payment is not just a matter of fairness; it increases the credibility of sports and honours the true value that women bring to the industry.
Recreating the system
Equal pay is not simply about raising women’s salaries. It is about rebuilding an anachronistic system. When sports organisations address bias, ramp up investment and create fair and transparent structures, they foster an environment where all athletes can thrive. This approach improves legitimacy, promotes sustainability and ensures that the future of sports is truly equitable.
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