Women’s Basketball

The W.N.B.A. began its 27th season on Friday with a spotlight on it thanks to the attention garnered by Brittney Griner, the center for the Phoenix Mercury who spent nearly 10 months detained in Russia last year.

Griner drew attention not only to herself and the plight of other foreign detainees but also to the financial disparities facing women in sports that had brought her to Russia in the first place. During each off-season, many W.N.B.A. players go overseas in search of higher pay. The maximum salary in the W.N.B.A. is about $230,000; for comparison, top players in the N.B.A. make nearly $50 million per year.

What is your reaction to the gap in pay between the W.N.B.A. and the N.B.A.? Were you aware of it before Griner’s detention? Do you think her bigger platform has the power to bring a new fan base to the W.N.B.A. and reshape women’s basketball?

Do you watch women’s basketball? Who are your favorite players? What are your favorite teams? What would you say to others to encourage them to pay more attention to women’s basketball — and women’s sports in general?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more about Griner and the upcoming W.N.B.A. season.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

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