Inequalities Between Men and Women in Basketball

Nicholas Todd Tinsley

AP English Language and Composition

Mr. Paul W. Hankins

Essential Question

• Of all the stats in basketball, gross earnings is one stat that professional basketball players do not have in common, why is that?

NBA and WNBA

• The NBA, or National Basketball Association, is a professional basketball league for male athletes

• Goal to win a championship

• The WNBA, or Women’s National Basketball Association, is professional basketball league for female athletes

• Goal to win a championship

• Entertainment

Logos

Amateur and Professional

• Amateurs play for the enjoyment of the game because they cannot receive any kind of monetary prize

• If amateurs accept any kind of prize or payment they become ineligible, and the players are no longer considered amateurs

• This level of play is usually from the time one begins playing until after college if they make it that far

• Professionals still play basketball for the enjoyment of the game, but they also receive a gain as far as money, endorsements, and/or attributes

• Professionals cannot become ineligible by receiving a monetary prize

• This presentation is going to discuss professionals in the NBA and WNBA up to this date

Equal or Unequal?

• Are women’s sports treated less equal than male’s sports?

• Would you rather watch a NBA game or a WNBA game?

• Both male and female professional basketball players accomplish the same things • They can both shoot

• They can both dribble

• They can both pass

Statistics- WNBA Team

• The number one team in the Western Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association is the Minnesota Lynx

• The Lynx are number one in their conference in two statistics and third in two other statistics

• They average 83 points per game (first), 37 rebounds per game (third), 21 assists per game (first), and 74 points allowed per game (third)

Statistics- NBA Team

• The leader of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association is the San Antonio Spurs

• Their record might be the best, but their statistics are not

• The Spurs are only first in one statistic, sixth in two others, and twelfth in another

• They average 105 points per game (sixth), 43 rebounds per game (twelfth), 25 assists per game (first), and 98 points allowed per game (sixth)

Statistics- WNBA Player

• Candace Parker plays for the Los Angeles Sparks and has won MVP (Most Valuable Player) twice in her WNBA career

• She averaged 2 blocks per game, 18 points per game, 9 rebounds per game (she recorded eight double-doubles), and 4 assists per game

• Candace Parker led her team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks

Statistics- NBA Player

• LeBron James of the Miami Heat has been named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA four times in his career

• He is the youngest player to receive the award four times at twenty-eight years old, and is among five total players to win the award four times

• LeBron James averaged 27 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and 7 assists per game

Pay Discrepancy

• $105,000 and $72,000

• Bonuses for winning the WNBA Championship, MVP, Rookie of the Year, or making the All-Star Team

• Work two jobs- “professional”

• LeBron James has a contract that guarantees him $67,000,000

• That does not include endorsements which he makes around $40,000,000 each year

Awards

NBA

• MVP

• Defensive Player of the Year

• Rookie of the Year

• Most Improved Player

• Sportsmanship Award

• Sixth Man of the Year

• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

WNBA

• MVP

• Defensive Player of the Year

• Rookie of the Year

• Most Improved Player

• Sportsmanship Award

• Sixth Woman of the Year

“Women’s” National Basketball Association

• Why is there the specificity between the National Basketball Association and the “Women’s” National Basketball Association?

Accomplishments

• Both leagues accomplish the same things

• The goals of the players and teams is to win games no matter what it takes

• Fixed entertainment for the public

• Behind the scenes stuff?

How to Bring About Equality

• One league with sexes still separated

• CO-ED

• Doubleheaders

5 Points to Take Away

• Women are not paid as much as men

• It is the “Women’s” National Basketball Association

• Statistics are similar

• Awards are similar

• Accomplishments are similar

Works Cited- Images

• "The story of the NBA logo." N.p., 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• Heller, Steven. "WNBA’s Slam Dunk Logo." PRINT, 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "Current Roster Update." NLSC, 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "NBA Team Logos." Free Vector, n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "Minnesota Lynx Credit Card ." Credit Card Chaser, 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• “San Antonio Spurs." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.

• Bergquist, Kathie. "Candace Parker Center Photo." Ms. Fit Magazine, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 May 2014.

• Gasmer, Ross. "NBA News." Medium Large, 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "Maya Moore." Hoopfeed, 23 Aug. 2012. Web. 27 May 2014.

• Domingo, Odeen . "Brittney Griner." N.p., 7 May 2013. Web. 27 May 2014.

• Huffman, Justin. "Kevin Durant." N.p., 18 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "John Wall." N.p., 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• "Quantitative equality is not possible." N.p., 2014. Web. 27 May 2014.

• “NBA Trophy.” N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.

• “Candace Parker Crowned MVP.” N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.

Link to Presentation