LV Convention Center offers each Ace player 100 grand sponsorship.

[willtalk]

The condition being they have to represent the City at events. Seem very simular to Over Seas where Cities and corperations pay their players. Well that one way to increase WNBA players salaries. However, not all teams play in cities that have the money to be able to afford this. Its not like LV is not already a huge draw for players.

 

[Jackalope]

For perspective, 7 Players of the Aces, out of 12, make $100,000 or lower.

2024 Las Vegas Aces Cap Table

The Las Vegas Aces 2024 salary cap table, including team cap space, dead cap figures, and complete breakdowns of player cap hits, salaries, and bonuses.

www.spotrac.com

 

[GamecockFam]

For perspective, 6 Players of the Aces, out of 11, make $100,000 or lower.

2024 Las Vegas Aces Cap Table

The Las Vegas Aces 2024 salary cap table, including team cap space, dead cap figures, and complete breakdowns of player cap hits, salaries, and bonuses.

www.spotrac.com

It's kind of crazy that with the extra $100k Martin and Fair will basically be making similar money to Jackie Young's base salary. Essentially they'll be making "starter" money.

 

[WBBTakeover]

It's kind of crazy that with the extra $100k Martin and Fair will basically be making similar money to Jackie Young's base salary. Essentially they'll be making "starter" money.

Exactly! $170K for what should be mop-up minutes. I'd take that in a heartbeat!

 

[ConnManFan]

WNBA investigating and will smack down the Aces for the second time over something like this. Competitive balance goes in the garbage if every free agent know they will make x+100k in Las Vegas and just x anywhere else. This will lead to super teams.

 

[WBBTakeover]

WNBA investigating and will smack down the Aces for the second time over something like this. Competitive balance goes in the garbage if every free agent know they will make x+100k in Las Vegas and just x anywhere else. This will lead to super teams.

Considering that this is essentially an endorsement deal with the city that the organization had nothing to do with, I highly doubt that.

As for "competitive balance", there's nothing stopping the other major WNBA cities (LA, Seattle, NYC, DC, Dallas/Arlington, Indianapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, etc.) from striking similar deals.

It's put up or shut up time. Enough with the investigations (i.e. whining). Either you care about these players or you don't. The city of Las Vegas just upped the ante. Your move, Seattle and New York (and LA, Phoenix, Minneapolis, etc.).

 

[willtalk]

This just mirrors what happened in college once the NCAA OK ed endorsements for player. Players tended to transfer to higher visibility schools. It is to the advantage of larger venues. Of course LV already had an advantage in legal perks for players. Did you see the rings they got two year in a row. They made past rings look like costume jewelry. Oh they might find some way to stop this sort of sponsorship, but it might also eliminate other ways for players to suplement their income which is essential if they want to stop players from going over seas.

 

[UConnCat]

The WNBA has to investigate this as a possible circumvention of the salary cap. Remember last year's finding that the Aces had arranged for impermissible benefits in violation of the CBA. This a description of last year's arrangement:

According to a report by The Next, the league is investigating accusations that Las Vegas arranged additional payments for players—for both current players negotiating extensions and free agents the team was recruiting—from outside companies to supplement the salaries the Aces offered within the confines of this season’s salary cap. The sponsorship offers reportedly would require minimal work on the part of the players.

This year's arrangement reportedly doesn't involve the team (or team affiliate) arranging for additional payments -- contracts were between the LVCVA and players' agents -- and pays every player the same amount of money. It looks like the deals require minimal work as confirmed by the LVCVA CEO who said "The offer is really simple. We want you to just play,"
.
The language of the CBA relevant to circumvention is below (note the inference).

It shall constitute a violation of Section 1(a) above for a Team (or Team Affiliate) to enter into an agreement or understanding with any sponsor or business partner or third party under which such sponsor, business partner or third party pays or agrees to pay compensation for basketball services (even if such compensation is ostensibly designated as being for non-basketball services) to a player under Contract to the Team. Such an agreement with a sponsor or business partner or third party may be inferred where: (i) such compensation from the sponsor or business partner or third party is substantially in excess of the fair market value of any services to be rendered by the player for such sponsor or business partner or third party; and (ii) the Compensation in the Player Contract between the player and the Team is substantially below the fair market value of such Contract

 

[psconn]

I'm sure Uncasville will be happy to come up with 1.2 million to be competative with all those major cities.

 

[TC22]

I swear, every time somebody wants to “Invest in women” the WNBA “invest”igates. Players want to play where they can win, get paid, and are treated like pros. Vegas built the first designated Aces only training facility, then Seattle, now the Mercury. I would assume NY has something comparable. Indiana has vastly upgraded their women’s facilities too. Those are all competitive advantages over the teaMs who have poorer facilities. NY and Vegas have a plane to their disposal and WANT to fly their teams but the WNBA said no because that isn’t fair but now…..there are some teams flying charter while other teams fly commercial. Now the competitive advantage isn’t there anymore? Make it make sense.

 

[UConnCat]

Some here are overreacting to the investigation opened by the WNBA.

I suspect the commissioner and the league office heard from other owners about this arrangement and the only way for the league to proceed fairly and objectively is by opening an investigation. An investigation is a process in which the league can objectively establish the facts. An investigation compels parties to cooperate and provide information to the league to establish what the facts are. The CBA is a legal document and whether the arrangement at issue violates the CBA is a conclusion that can only be reached after the facts are established.

The Commissioner represents the interests of all WNBA owners.