In the wake of Mercury G Diana Taurasi's decision to skip the '15 WNBA season, the "big question is whether this might become a trend among the league’s top players," according to Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve "believes the answer is no, and cites several reasons." Success in the WNBA is "still a prerequisite for players looking for lucrative overseas deals," because it "remains the world’s most competitive league for women." There additionally is a "strong feeling among most players that playing at home is important both for them and the game." Youngblood writes it is "not unlikely that another star could make the same decision," but "not a lot of players will have the option to earn the sort of money Taurasi is making." Taurasi makes $1.5M annually from her Russian club, while earning just $107,000 from the Mercury (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/5). In DC, Cindy Boren wrote the WNBA has been around since '96, but it has "relied on the star power brought by a few to elevate it and now a significant star is playing elsewhere for 15 times the money she could make here." It is a "significant problem for the league, which can’t afford an exodus by its stars" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/4). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said, "If I'm Phoenix, I'm scared to death because (Mercury C) Brittney Griner made $47,000 last year in the WNBA and she gets paid $600,000 in China” ("Around The Horn," ESPN 2/4).
MONEY FOR NOTHING: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser called Taurasi sitting out a "very big deal" and said if she is "walking away from the WNBA because she is making around $100,000 a year and they're offering her 15 times that in another country, what that says is there is something wrong." ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said, “You can't have the No. 3 player on a team making the same thing as the No. 1 player and the star, because this league … is even more dependent on its star players than the NBA” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/4). ESPN’s Dan Le Batard said the WNBA should be worried about the fact that a team in another country is willing to pay "10 times what your maximum salary is for your stars." Le Batard: "She's as big a star as there is. ... That's concerning if you're running a business.” ESPN's Bomani Jones said Taurasi's "main job is playing in Russia," and the WNBA is her "side job." However, Taurasi being paid not to play is “something you’ve got to be worried about if you’re the WNBA” ("Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 2/4). ESPN’s J.A. Adande said Taurasi is “moonlighting as a WNBA player based on the salary structure, so it makes a lot of sense to protect the investment." Adande: "That means sitting this season out” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/4). ESPN's Doris Burke: "She’s the most important player in the league. She should make more money, there’s no question about it” (“NBA Countdown,” ESPN, 2/4).
