These players are insane. Clark steps in the league and money increases exponentially. They all think its due to their great play and not due to Clark.
I could see the league folding if they don't agree to a new contract by next fall.
Exactly - you went from flying commercial to having chartered jets and thought somehow the league profits exploded. No - you just got your first taste of success and It immediately went to some players heads.
League won't fold as long as the NBA is behind it - just like the G League - NBA won't let things just collapse as it would make them look bad. They realize their growth opportunity is international and that there is an opportunity to grow the product outside of the US - even with a majority of games being played here. The WNBA budget is literally a rounding error on their finances - so shutting it down won't happen. Plus given the current situation worldwide - American women don't want to play overseas - even if it's for 5x the $$.
Angel Reese's comments on her 80k a year salary from the league pretty well cover the thoughts of some players in this league - crying it doesn't even cover her rent. She's right - but then who in the hell said go out and rent a 10k a month luxury penthouse Angel ?!? Granted I'm a little above that salary at this point in my life - but at her age 80k is a decent salary. How much you think minor league baseball players make a season and have a similar lifestyle - what about olympic athletes who haven't won gold a few times - even professional tennis players. Plenty of athletes earn a salary well below a million a year - and manage just fine living in ordinary housing like most of middle class America. I remember in the early 90's when a buddy of mine had an apartment next door to a bunch of local AAA ballplayers - usually 2-3 of them in a 3 bedroom splitting rent - always a poker game/party going on and great guys to hang out with. Most of them were around the same age as we were (22-27) and a lot were what you would call AAAA players - good enough to play professionally - but never stuck in majors for long.
Just because you're a "professional" athlete doesn't mean you are rich - some kids just don't get that. The perks of celebrity make them think they are - reality is people will treat you well beyond your financial status when your semi-famous - just like any C lister in Hollywood.
www.espn.com
good one son
