EXPLAINER: Why WNBA players go overseas to play in offseason
2 years, 9 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why WNBA players go overseas to play in offseason

Associated Press  

Russia has been a popular destination for WNBA players like Brittney Griner over the past two decades because of the money they can make playing there in the winter. With top players earning more than $1 million — nearly quadruple what they can make as a base salary in the WNBA — Griner, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Jonquel Jones have been willing to spend their offseason playing far from home. More than a dozen WNBA players were playing in Russia and Ukraine this winter, including league MVP Jones and Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley of the champion Chicago Sky. Almost half of the WNBA’s 144 players were overseas this offseason, although stars Candace Parker, Bird, Chiney Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray opted to stay stateside.

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History of this topic

WNBA and players’ union meet to discuss new CBA
1 week, 4 days ago

WNBA and players’ union meet to discuss new CBA

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA and the league’s players union met in person Wednesday to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement. “Today’s meeting included preliminary conversations and constructive dialogue, with a mutual agreement to continue discussions for a transformational, new CBA,” the two sides said in a joint statement. The WNBA players union opted out of the current collective bargaining …

WNBA Players Union Demands New Collective Bargaining Agreement
2 months ago

WNBA Players Union Demands New Collective Bargaining Agreement

CNN  

The WNBA players union has opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement early, demanding a new deal that better reflects the growth of the game. The decision comes after a historic season for the league, which saw audience figures skyrocket and many players become household names on the level of other professional sports in the US. The WNBA is …

Seattle Storm blasted over 'distasteful' tweet just minutes after WNBA team's rookie suffers horrifying knee injury
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Seattle Storm blasted over 'distasteful' tweet just minutes after WNBA team's rookie suffers horrifying knee injury

Daily Mail  

The Seattle Storm drew the ire of their fans after posting a tweet about Nika Muhl's fashion sense moments after the rookie guard went down with a serious knee injury. The Seattle Storm sent out this tweet celebrating Nika Muhl after a horrific knee injury Social media slammed the team for their lack of awareness surrounding Muhl's injury One reply …

The WNBA’s challenge: How to translate the Caitlin Clark hype into sustained growth for the league
7 months, 1 week ago

The WNBA’s challenge: How to translate the Caitlin Clark hype into sustained growth for the league

Associated Press  

The stars seemingly have aligned for the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joining the ranks of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and others. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said everyone involved needs to be more innovative in how players and games are marketed and promoted to take advantage of the potential tsunami for both the league and women’s …

Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans who played in Russia after Brittney Griner’s arrest
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans who played in Russia after Brittney Griner’s arrest

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans that opted to play in Russia this past offseason, a decision New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton said raised a few eyebrows following Brittney Griner’s incarceration in 2022. “I had a lot of people trying to question my decision and were like, ‘Are you sure?’” Thornton told The Associated …

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold
8 months, 1 week ago

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold

NPR  

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Jemele Hill, contributing writer for The Atlantic, about the 36 new players who were drafted into the WNBA and the future of the sport. Clark is one of the reasons that this year viewership of women's college basketball eclipsed men's …

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028
8 months, 1 week ago

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA will once again pay for charter flights for the entire playoffs as well as for back-to-back games during the upcoming season that require air travel, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Monday. We need to be in the right financial position,” Engelbert said before the WNBA draft Monday night. “It will happen before the college draft and …

Israel-Hamas war means one less overseas option for WNBA players with Russia already out
1 year, 2 months ago

Israel-Hamas war means one less overseas option for WNBA players with Russia already out

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Alysha Clark has spent the past five WNBA offseasons playing overseas in Israel, but with the country at war with Hamas she probably won’t be going back this year — if it’s even an option. I’d prefer to stay home and be with my family, be in the market in Vegas and do that type of thing.” …

With limited WNBA space, hardship contracts can be a lifeline (or vicious cycle) even for top players
1 year, 3 months ago

With limited WNBA space, hardship contracts can be a lifeline (or vicious cycle) even for top players

New York Times  

When Emily Engstler was waived by the Indiana Fever in late April, she hopped in her car and drove straight to Louisville in search of some familiarity and solace. “I wasn’t going to go home.” Engstler, 23, had wondered whether it was already time to use her degree in broadcast journalism rather than fight for a roster spot in the …

Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women’s league to play in WNBA offseason
1 year, 5 months ago

Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women’s league to play in WNBA offseason

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are starting a new women’s basketball league to give top players another option to play in the U.S. in the offseason once the league’s prioritization rules go into effect next year. The new league, which is called Unrivaled, will run from January through March and have 30 of the top …

Brittney Griner’s WNBA return puts player salaries back in focus
1 year, 7 months ago

Brittney Griner’s WNBA return puts player salaries back in focus

Al Jazeera  

As new season tips off, US women’s basketball league faces questions over why its top stars must go abroad for more pay. “But at the same time, as much as I would love to pay my light bill the love of the game, I can’t, you know?” WNBA salaries For years, WNBA players have gone abroad to supplement their league …

NBA, players association ratify new CBA; runs through 2029-30 season
1 year, 7 months ago

NBA, players association ratify new CBA; runs through 2029-30 season

New York Times  

The NBA board of governors and the National Basketball Players Association ratified the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, the NBA and NBPA announced Wednesday. Among the biggest changes under the new CBA, The Athletic previously reported, are that players will be allowed to invest in NBA and WNBA teams, players will no longer be penalized for using marijuana and players …

NBA players can invest in NBA, WNBA teams under new CBA: Sources
1 year, 8 months ago

NBA players can invest in NBA, WNBA teams under new CBA: Sources

New York Times  

The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement will give players the ability to invest in NBA and WNBA teams, according to sources briefed on the details of the negotiations. Game changer: The league's new collective bargaining agreement will give players the ability to invest in NBA and WNBA teams, as well as promote and/or invest in sports betting and cannabis companies, …

Chase the WNBA dream or stay overseas? It’s not a simple choice for many Americans
1 year, 10 months ago

Chase the WNBA dream or stay overseas? It’s not a simple choice for many Americans

New York Times  

In No Offseason, The Athletic follows the paths of women’s basketball players after their WNBA seasons’ end and their travels begin. “Even coming overseas, if you have a WNBA roster spot or even a training camp experience,” she said, “your money can skyrocket.” Reimer is not alone pondering these questions — about finances, league quality, exposure and personal growth — …

Inside the WNBA’s player marketing agreements and the path to a sustainable tomorrow
2 years ago

Inside the WNBA’s player marketing agreements and the path to a sustainable tomorrow

New York Times  

In No Offseason, The Athletic follows the paths of women’s basketball players after their WNBA seasons’ end and their travels begin. We just really want to make sure we’re providing them these opportunities to make more money and that when they do it, they feel good about their relationship with the league and our partners and their team.” WNBA commissioner …

Brittney Griner’s ordeal made WNBA overseas players trepidatious, now they’re celebrating
2 years ago

Brittney Griner’s ordeal made WNBA overseas players trepidatious, now they’re celebrating

New York Times  

In No Offseason, The Athletic follows the paths of women’s basketball players after their WNBA seasons’ end and their travels begin. “It could have been somebody else.” Howard added that although she’s playing in Istanbul right now, she didn’t want to play a full season in the transcontinental city because the Griner “situation was mentally draining.” She’s spent the fall …

How do WNBA coaches scout overseas? Video and travel, of course, but word of mouth is vital
2 years ago

How do WNBA coaches scout overseas? Video and travel, of course, but word of mouth is vital

New York Times  

In No Offseason, The Athletic follows the paths of women’s basketball players after their WNBA seasons’ end and their travels begin. While it serves as a warm reprieve from the bitter Chicago winters, it also gives Wade a prime opportunity to scout the many women’s basketball players abroad during those months. That’s not a country where you’re gonna go see …

Women’s college basketball, WNBA mailbag: Is something off with Iowa? Who should Lynx draft?
2 years, 1 month ago

Women’s college basketball, WNBA mailbag: Is something off with Iowa? Who should Lynx draft?

New York Times  

South Carolina is still the class of college hoops, and the Indiana Fever stand to benefit in the draft from the generational talent who’s propelling the Gamecocks in their bid for a repeat. – David H. First, let’s start with a refresher: WNBA free agency begins in January when teams can start negotiating with their own free agents. The doomsday …

Why some WNBA players are electing against international play this offseason: ‘Sometimes it’s just not worth it’
2 years, 1 month ago

Why some WNBA players are electing against international play this offseason: ‘Sometimes it’s just not worth it’

New York Times  

In No Offseason, The Athletic follows the paths of women’s basketball players after their WNBA seasons’ end and their travels begin. She played in 30 games in her first WNBA season, then did what most women’s basketball players in her situation do and crossed the Atlantic Ocean for her third season in a calendar year. It’s also no secret the …

Brittney Griner | Caught in the war
2 years, 4 months ago

Brittney Griner | Caught in the war

The Hindu  

On Thursday, a court in Russia handed American basketball star Brittney Griner a nine-year sentence for possessing two vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. Just because, you know, she can’t make enough money in the WNBA to sustain her life.” Griner was among a dozen WNBA players playing in Russia and Ukraine. The stakes …

Pay equity in women’s sports: How the WNBA is playing the long game
2 years, 4 months ago

Pay equity in women’s sports: How the WNBA is playing the long game

LA Times  

Katie Lou Samuelson had the perfect shoes to mark the anniversary of Title IX. “We’re the league that put your money where your mouth is,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. With WNBA salaries stagnating, “there’s a lot more weight on sponsorships and brand partnerships,” Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “But the pot doesn’t necessarily get bigger for every player if …

Griner’s ordeal in Russia weighs on minds of teammates
2 years, 8 months ago

Griner’s ordeal in Russia weighs on minds of teammates

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — While the practice facility for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury was filled with laughter and the echoes of bouncing basketballs during the team’s preseason workout, there was no denying the presence and spirit of 6-foot-9 center Brittney Griner was missing. Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi, who also has played in Russia, said Monday afternoon that the sensitive nature of Griner’s …

Brittney Griner’s teammates break silence amid Russia detention
2 years, 8 months ago

Brittney Griner’s teammates break silence amid Russia detention

Al Jazeera  

USA Basketball teammates express support for Griner after weeks in detention, say, ‘It could have been any of us’. Brittney Griner’s teammates have broken their silence amid the US basketball player’s continued detention in Russia, saying they are hopeful that everything is being done to get her home safely. “We’re not talking about BG the basketball player, we’re talking about …

WNBA players break silence on Brittney Griner
2 years, 8 months ago

WNBA players break silence on Brittney Griner

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Two of Brittney Griner’s USA Basketball teammates have broken their silence on the star player’s imprisonment in Russia. Most WNBA players have been hesitant to talk about Griner’s detention on apparent drug charges in Russia, hoping to avoid potentially hurting her case. “WNBA players need to be valued in their country and they won’t have to play overseas.” …

Brittney Griner: Why so many WNBA stars play basketball overseas
2 years, 9 months ago

Brittney Griner: Why so many WNBA stars play basketball overseas

CNN  

CNN — For many years, WNBA players have regularly gone overseas during the WNBA’s off-season to make the most of the higher salaries they can earn in international leagues. “Like many athletes competing in the WNBA, Griner plays abroad during the WNBA offseason because her salary is exponentially higher in other countries,” Spruill wrote on the petition’s page. “For WNBA …

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