Claudia Goldin, the esteemed Harvard economist who recently received the Nobel Prize for her extensive research into gender wage gaps and labor earnings in the United States, is now supporting the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) as an unpaid consultant during critical collective bargaining negotiations. Though Goldin, at 79, admits she isn’t a basketball aficionado, she was inspired to engage with the WNBPA after receiving a compelling inquiry from executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson about the intersection of the league’s business growth and existing labor challenges.
In her role, Goldin provides economic analysis and insight into various salary-related issues amid the ongoing negotiation of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is set to be finalized by October 31. Her efforts have become crucial as the league faces pressures regarding its financial trajectory, with Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally expressing that the league’s recent proposals felt like “a slap in the face” to current players. The WNBA plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030, a move that Goldin believes could strengthen players’ bargaining power.
Despite claims from team owners of financial struggles—previously reported losses of over $40 million in the last season—Goldin challenges these assertions, emphasizing the value being offered in team sales, with expansions costing upwards of $250 million. She argues that the economic model in the women’s league is fundamentally inequitable; players receive only 50% of incremental revenue, contrasting sharply with their NBA counterparts who earn 51% of basketball-related income.
Goldin firmly believes that as the WNBA grows, the players should also benefit proportionally from the increasing equity value they help generate. She noted that in rapidly growing companies, it’s often the laborers who miss out on financial gains. Goldin is determined to advocate for a fair labor agreement that acknowledges the significant contributions of players to the league’s success.
As she becomes more familiar with basketball and its labor dynamics—having started her journey as a consultant—Goldin looks forward to attending the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where her involvement with the players is set to deepen. She also brings a sense of accomplishment to her interactions with the athletes, boasting about her successful first pitch at a historic baseball rivalry game.
Goldin’s efforts reflect not only a commitment to economic fairness but also a broader vision for the future of women’s basketball, emphasizing the need for recognition and compensation that truly reflects the players’ value within the league. Her involvement in these negotiations provides hope for a more equitable future, where athletes’ contributions are honored with appropriate financial acknowledgment.