text: The men of the NBA are among the highest paid employees on the planet, making an average of almost $4 million each for the 2004-05 season, according to the Players Union. The women of the WNBA, on the other hand, earned on average between $46,000 (says the union) and $60,000 for the season (says the league). \n\nIt certainly seems unfair that WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson can make a maximum of $87,000 per year (according to the latest collective bargaining agreement), while perennial NBA disappointment Shawn Bradley is guaranteed a minimum of $1,100,000. But consider the following: average NBA attendance is about 17,000 per game, while the WNBA brings in 10,000. The average NBA ticket price is over $45, the WNBA just $15. \n\nThen of course, there's the TV money. And in last year's contract dispute that delayed the start of the woman's season, the league claimed it had never turned a profit. While many WNBA players said they were disappointed with the final agreement, they did gain some new benefits, including the right of free agency and a less restrictive list of products they can endorse. \n\nStill, with NBA yearly salaries ranging as high as a whopping $28 million for Kevin Garnett in 2003, some may feel compelled to sign a petition urging the WNBA to cough up a little more dough for the ladies. \n\nHere's some WNBA player salary and contract info from 2004:\n\nJune, 2004: The minimum WNBA salary for players with 0-3 years of experience is $30,600 and for players with 4 or more years of experience it's $43,700. The maximum WNBA salary is $87,000. 2004 WNBA Rookies make somewhere between $41,000 and $34,000. Players on the team that wins the WNBA championship each get a bonus of $10,000. Players on the runner-up team each get $5,000.\n\nWNBA SALARY CAP\n\nJune, 2004: The 2004 WNBA team salary cap is $647,000. For 2005, it'll be $673,000. For 2006 it'll be $700,000. If the WNBA collective bargaining agreement is extended, then for 2007 the WNBA salary cap will be $728,000.\n\nJune, 2004: The WNBA minimum team salary cap is 90% of the salary cap.