WNBPA interim Exec Dir Michele Roberts on Thursday in a statement said the union "fully supports" Mercury G Diana Taurasi's decision to sit out the '15 WNBA season to play for a Russian pro team. Roberts: "It is unfortunate that in the most recent round of bargaining the WNBA owners insisted on the imposition of significant penalties on players who may have to miss some portion of the WNBA season in order to fulfill overseas commitments. Our hope is that these penalties do not have the unfortunate, unintended consequence of discouraging some players from playing for the WNBA." Roberts said Taurasi's decision "appears prudent, measured and totally understandable" (WNBPA).
ISOLATED INCIDENT? In Hartford, John Altavilla notes while the WNBA "mourns the loss of one of its compelling stars it also does not expect Taurasi's move to lead to others." WNBA Sun VP & GM Chris Sienko said, "My belief is that it's an isolated incident." Sun G Katie Douglas "does not believe there are many, if any, European professional teams in any nation that have the financial wherewithal or emotional commitment to an American player to make a similar offer." Douglas: "I believe it's a singular event. We're talking about the wealthiest team in women's professional basketball. There are not many teams I can even think of that even are capable of paying their players a salary like Diana's, let alone more money to sit out a WNBA season." Altavilla notes the WNBA has "long dealt with foreign players not reporting to league teams." Sienko said, "The league is to the point now where it's pretty strong and can survive one or two players being gone" (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/6).
