Whoopi Goldberg jumps into WNBA salary debate, slams ESPN on The View for not investing more

"The women have the headlines. They have the fans. They have the viewers."

So many people are talking about WNBA salaries and how things like TV and media rights play a direct role in their value. Now, Whoopi Goldberg is seemingly peeved with ESPN over the network’s approach to investing in the league.

In case you missed it, there was a lot of conversation this week about how much WNBA players make and why it’s so much less than the NBA. (We explained why here.) That chatter has somehow made its way over to Whoopi Goldberg and The View.

Goldberg took time on Thursday to make an impassioned plea for action regarding WNBA salaries and specifically took exception to ESPN’s approach.

Here’s what she told those in the studio audience (Warning: NSFW language used):

“The women have the headlines. They have the fans. They have the viewers. When the [expletive] are they going to get paid?…

Because ESPN, who we work with as part of the Disney thing, they came in and swooped in and said, ‘OK, we’re going to start to do this.’

I know there’s a re-up coming, but they should have kissed this deal by taking care of all of the WNBA and giving them enough money for a bump up because you know you have another deal to make. They should have sweetened that deal.”

Whoopi Goldberg called out ESPN for lowballing the WNBA on ABC's 'The View' today pic.twitter.com/gYPCjVlaHf

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 18, 2024