Gabby Williams calls out WNBA commissioner for false narrative about player pay

Gabby Williams has called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for selling a false narrative to players regarding how much they could be paid.

Williams has been one of the stars of the WNBA season with the Seattle Storm but the 28-year-old has been enjoying her time playing in the European game in recent seasons. The fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Chicago Sky has embraced her maternal family during her career.

Born to a French mother, Williams played for France in the Paris Olympics where she helped guide the team to the gold medal match against the USA. Just weeks after picking up silver, Williams confirmed she would remain with the Storm for the remainder of the 2024 season having spent the pre-Olympic break in Seattle.

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Her decision was an intriguing one given her criticism of the WNBA in the past and she doubled down with a scathing attack on the league’s financial benefit to players. "The W[NBA} thinks that they don't have to pay us more in order for us to be here. And I think I didn't express that when I first talked about prioritization," Williams said.

"Our commissioner talked about us being able to make $700,000. That's actually not true at all. There's not one player who makes that."

The current highest-paid player in the WNBA is the Las Vegas Aces ’ Jackie Young, who earns an annual salary of $252,450.

Williams added: "We were promised team marketing agreements and league marketing agreements, but they've fallen quite short. So it's still not enough for us international players to want to stay here and that's a choice of the players.

“If I make a choice to make more money, whatever, and then teams are mad that I don't come back, but that's how it is. The WNBA, if you want us to be here, you have to pay us more. It's business, it's how it works, and that's all that means.”

Williams has previously been critical of the WNBA’s pay structure, which she explained is a reason why she decided to stay overseas rather than return to the league last season. She told The Next Hoops last year how she has to put her family first. "Unfortunately, [the WNBA] doesn’t pay the most. So I am happy to have other options to provide for me and my family,” she said.

The former UConn starlet is now an unrestricted free agent after the Storm’s WNBA Playoffs were brought to an end by the Aces who took an unassailable lead in the first round. Time will tell whether she decides to stick around in the WNBA or head back overseas to explore a likely greater payday.