It is Capitalism. Further, these are professional athletes being discussed, not staff at a hair salon. This is a ‘protection’ that has absolutely ship-wrecked players careers in the past and will continue to do so into the future. In addition to being on the bubble and having to outplay other teammates for the roster spot, if your ‘required salary’ is $652 more than others only because you were drafted a few spots higher, and as a result puts the team over the limit, regardless of whether you’re a better player or not you don’t make the team. What is necessary, is to MAKE THE TEAM!!!
Step 1 – Make the team as a rookie!!!
Step 2 – Be a hard worker, be charismatic, become a crowd favorite, but not just in the women’s basketball stadium but rather become a community favorite! (Nika’s personality and attractive appearance certainly will not hurt her).
Step 3 – Appear in commercials and advertising; be compensated an amount that will make the WNBA Salary nothing but what it really is, a pittance, and the $652 makes no dang difference.
Step 4 – Make the team as a second-year player!!!
Step 5 – Rinse and repeat.
And yet, if a player is not able to get through Step 1, … well, maybe there are alternatives. They could go play in Europe, or put that Psychology degree to practice in the real world.