It’s difficult for me to think that this Unrivaled thing isn’t going to be a huge stumbling block in the current CBA negotiations. It is inevitable that players, star players, will end up suffering season ending injuries during the course of the Unrivaled season! If you are asking me, as a WNBA owner to pony up million dollar salaries, there is no way I’m allowing my million dollar investment to take that risk. I’m already risking big time losses as there is no history of the W succeeding financially and now I’ve got to fade the likelihood that one or more of my (now high priced) players won’t be able to play for my team? I don’t think so.
I don’t know what is going to happen but I am sure that’s going to be a problem. I suppose if the player signed a waiver that she would go unpaid from the W in the event of an injury that might suffice but I as an owner would still take it in the shorts as my star player, the one our fans are coming to see, is not available! Maybe Dwayne Wade could give us his thoughts on that? I will admit though, I was dumbfounded at the apparent success of Unrivaled. I would never have thought that was a winning project. Actually, I’m withholding my belief in it’s long term viability til they can show the same success in consecutive years. Anyhoo, them’s my thoughts!