The fact that an NBA mascot earns significantly more than the highest-paid WNBA players has some people upset.
A graphic from Boardroom.com displaying the highest-paid NBA mascots went viral earlier this week.
Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, earns $625k annually, according to Boardroom.
People weren’t pleased with the pay gap between WNBA players and an NBA mascot, given that the average WNBA player salary is $102,751 and Diana Taurasi is the league’s highest-paid player, at $228,000 per year.
Rocky, the Denver Nuggets mascot, is the highest-paid mascot in the NBA. Rocky makes $625K/yr.
Diana Taurasi, 3x WNBA champion & 5x Olympic gold medalist, is the highest-paid player in the WNBA. Diana makes $228K/yr.
(c/o @boardroom) pic.twitter.com/JWvaTPgPUk
— GOALS | Women’s Sports Business (@goals_sports_) October 5, 2022
You can learn everything you need to know about how the sports industry views women by examining the salary disparity between mascots and top female athletes.
The pay gap between mascots and elite female athletes tells you everything you need to know about how the sports industry values women. https://t.co/YPLsF6JczZ
— Caroline Fitzgerald (@pghcaroline) October 5, 2022
“As much as I love Rocky from the Denver Nuggets and other mascots, this is ridiculous.”
As much as I love Rocky from the Denver Nuggets and other mascots, this is ridiculous. https://t.co/sFhbpfuEuB
— Joanne O’ Riordan (@JoanneOR_Ox) October 5, 2022
“You know how much it sucks to realize the world thinks you don’t deserve anything because you’re a woman?”
https://twitter.com/Jayewill312/status/1577655695847182336
“In case anyone is wondering why we’re salty about the pay in the WNBA. (And MLS, and women’s sports in general.)”
In case anyone is wondering why we're salty about the pay in the WNBA. (And MLS, and women's sports in general.) https://t.co/avTmZlQmTS
— MsMagsMN (@MsMagsMN) October 5, 2022
A few supporters backed Rocky’s wages.
“The best mascots are exceptionally skilled athletes. They work very hard. Typically, they are also in charge of all of their social media material. It involves more than just donning a mask and dancing.
pay women decently, please. Can we please compensate people decently without devaluing their work?
the best mascots are extremely athletic and talented. they do a ton of work. they’re usually responsible for all of their social content too. it’s not just putting on a mask and dancing.
just pay women fairly. can we just pay people fairly without taking other peoples work down. https://t.co/QJPJvFRwkd
— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) October 5, 2022
