Taurasi to sit out 2015 WNBA Season | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Taurasi to sit out 2015 WNBA Season

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If I remember right the team that DT plays for in Russia was owned by a billionaire who didn't care about losing money. He wanted to win so badly that he would pay anything.
 
j66kicker said:
Same problem. Not only is there not enough revenue/fan interest to pay the players, there's also it enough to pay the best coaches. No way a top-tier college coach could afford to leave for the WNBA. It's almost a volunteer league, with players and coaches donating their time/services.
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If what Fagan says is correct, I wouldn't classify a 200k - 300k salary as "donating time / services"... ;)
 
Farney said:
If I remember right the team that DT plays for in Russia was owned by a billionaire who didn't care about losing money. He wanted to win so badly that he would pay anything.
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I read a story about a guy who paid Sue and Diana a lot of money and treated them like royalty but he was murdered.

There's more than one guy like that?
 
UConnDan97 said:
If what Fagan says is correct, I wouldn't classify a 200k - 300k salary as "donating time / services"... ;)
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Sorry - just the players I guess. Top-level NCAA coaches would be 'donating' if they coached in the WNBA for that money.
 
Striper69 said:
I read a story about a guy who paid Sue and Diana a lot of money and treated them like royalty but he was murdered.

There's more than one guy like that?
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I have read that many of the European teams are sponsored by rich guys who can afford to subsidize the teams
 
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CL82 said:
It's the right call for Diana. I wish her the best.

I'm a little tired myself. Anyone want to pony up so I can take the summer off?
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Hey I just want it to "make sense financially" for me to take the summer off!
 
JoePgh said:
I have never seen a convincing explanation of the economic underpinnings of the foreign WBB leagues. Their game attendance is far worse than for the WNBA; they don't have TV contracts; and their quality of play is less than in the WNBA. So where do they get the money to pay these salaries?
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Taurasi's team is owned by a Russian gazillionaire.

Like a few other gazillionaires in Russia, the team is his hobby.

He's got the cash and doesn't mind losing $5M a year as long as he's winning.
 
This is a good move for Diana. She has been playing ball probably non-stop since 2004! The grind wears on you after awhile. The WNBA will be fine. Diana isn't the only marketable star. The WNBA will still move on, which it should.
 
I hate to even say this, but Diana isn't all that young in basketball years. She needs to rest at some point and with the disparity in pay, not much choice about which season to take off.
 
I've seen a number of other players "take the season off" for varies reasons.... first time I have seen a player get paid to take the season off though...
 
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JoePgh said:
I have never seen a convincing explanation of the economic underpinnings of the foreign WBB leagues. Their game attendance is far worse than for the WNBA; they don't have TV contracts; and their quality of play is less than in the WNBA. So where do they get the money to pay these salaries?
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As a couple of people have said, some of the owners are very rich and this is just a play thing for them. To boost their ego by winning. Also many of the teams come from sports clubs. The clubs put out soccer, MBB, WBB, rugby, hockey, volleyball, etc. teams. They make money on some, lose money (probably a write off) on some.

For instance Tina Charles and Angel McCaughtry play for Fenerbache, which is a huge soccer (Football) club in Turkey. The club's members pay dues, the club has sponsors. They own their on TV and radio and all their facilities. They have swimming pools, an inn, restaurant, rec facility. They have their own company that sells their products (jerseys, etc.).

For some, having a WBB team is just a small part of a much bigger operation.
 
msf22b said:
It make a whole lot of sense for UMMC Ekaterinburg to pay her an honorarium equal to or greater than her WNBA salary to not play the grueling, grossly underpaid, WNBA season.

Although some will deride this decision, it makes perfect business sense.

Is this the beginning of the end for the WNBA?
Will they begin to compensate their athletes more appropriately?

Or will they just soldier on?
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I think there's enough U.S. players who will just try to stay here in the offseason like EDD and Skylar Diggins so it won't effect them and their teams. Some younger players will go for the money and travel and just tough out the year round play. They are only playing a game after all and they probably would be playing in their spare time anyway.
When you get older it's not as easy to do that. I told my brother I'd be playing BB when I was in my forties. I really quit when I joined the Army at 27 years old.
 
JoePgh said:
I have never seen a convincing explanation of the economic underpinnings of the foreign WBB leagues. Their game attendance is far worse than for the WNBA; they don't have TV contracts; and their quality of play is less than in the WNBA. So where do they get the money to pay these salaries?

On another point, I don't think it does the WNBA any significant harm if some older players take sabbatical years to allow their bodies to recover. The younger stars will provide all the star power that the league needs. I don't expect Maya Moore or Brittany Griner to take a year off from the WNBA until their 30th birthday is in the rear view mirror.
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I'll bet a bunch of teams wish Maya and Britney would take a year off...

lol
 
Wait, what? Taurasi is paid less than Anne Donovan? In what world does that make sense?
 
Fishy said:
Taurasi's team is owned by a Russian gazillionaire.

Like a few other gazillionaires in Russia, the team is his hobby.

He's got the cash and doesn't mind losing $5M a year as long as he's winning.
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i_am_epic_win_directv.jpg

What, what you need to work, Diana? I tell you what. I pay you not to work. We are done no?
 
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Striper69 said:
I think there's enough U.S. players who will just try to stay here in the offseason like EDD and Skylar Diggins so it won't effect them and their teams. Some younger players will go for the money and travel and just tough out the year round play. They are only playing a game after all and they probably would be playing in their spare time anyway.
When you get older it's not as easy to do that. I told my brother I'd be playing BB when I was in my forties. I really quit when I joined the Army at 27 years old.
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EDD and Skylar are also motivated by all the promotional money they make back home.
In addition, EDD has a great deal of charity work set up, likes to be able to see her disabled sister regularly and her family is reasonably comfortable.

PS: I still hoist a few at 75
 
msf22b said:
EDD and Skylar are also motivated by all the promotional money they make back home.
In addition, EDD has a great deal of charity work set up, likes to be able to see her disabled sister regularly and her family is reasonably comfortable.

PS: I still hoist a few at 75
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I don't like even shooting around. It reminds me of how good I was and will never be again. It took a lot of work to get where I was.

I don't play pickup cause the dental work would be too expensive...

j/k
 
Fishy said:
Taurasi's team is owned by a Russian gazillionaire.

Like a few other gazillionaires in Russia, the team is his hobby.

He's got the cash and doesn't mind losing $5M a year as long as he's winning.
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Then why doesn't he show some balls and buy a WNBA team?

j/k
 
Striper69 said:
Then why doesn't he show some balls and buy a WNBA team?

j/k
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Probably his ego is stroked by showing off to his Russian buddies - may not have any buddies in the USA. But guys like Mark Cuban, for instance......? Oprah could buy the whole WNBA 100 times over.
 
j66kicker said:
Probably his ego is stroked by showing off to his Russian buddies - may not have any buddies in the USA. But guys like Mark Cuban, for instance.? Oprah could buy the whole WNBA 100 times over.
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The Nets owner is Russian.
 
I don't like DT's decision, however it is her life. If more players do something similar it hurts the WNBA.
I would like to know why the teams from Russia and Turkey can afford to pay top stars big bucks vs the WNBA.
What are ticket prices in these countries? Who backs the teams financially for them to be able do run with a business model that doesn't seem to be fiscally sound? Are there big TV contracts in these countries?

I was in Australia in November for vacation, and I did watch some games and spoke to people who were at the games who worked for some of the teams. What I was surprised to learn is that not all of the players are compensated with a salary. Many of the non stars work other jobs or continue on with higher education while playing for these teams. The imports, mainly Americans are paid. The top stars are paid. But the average players may only make a small salary, certainly nothing to live on or no salary at all. Their expenses for travel are covered, also uniforms, and if they are injured. I wonder if this is the case in Europe and Asia too.
 
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arch said:
With what? Profits?
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If DT was handled correctly, good agent/PR/etc, her stateside take should be around 1 million. The Russian pad may be a couple of years $$$ in a off shore bank.
Would be nice to see her shadow GA in her off season and in 5 years retire to the coaching ranks. But she is smart ..just one missed-step on the court and it's all over..!!!
So build up the Piggy bank NOW!!!
 
hoopsdiva said:
Wow. I'm sure DT is doing the best thing for her, and I support her entirely in her decision.

I doubt that DT's absence weakens Phoenix enough to make them a legitimate contender in the #StinkForStewie sweepstakes. But the thought did cross my mind.
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I like yours better, but I had #Kablewie4Stewie
 
Farney said:
If I remember right the team that DT plays for in Russia was owned by a billionaire who didn't care about losing money. He wanted to win so badly that he would pay anything.
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Yes, but he was murdered...that was a different team
 
Striper69 said:
Then why doesn't he show some balls and buy a WNBA team?

j/k
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Salary cap. Draft. They don't like to deal with stuff like that. They like to do whatever they want.
 
ochoopsfan said:
I don't like DT's decision, however it is her life. If more players do something similar it hurts the WNBA.
I would like to know why the teams from Russia and Turkey can afford to pay top stars big bucks vs the WNBA.
What are ticket prices in these countries? Who backs the teams financially for them to be able do run with a business model that doesn't seem to be fiscally sound? Are there big TV contracts in these countries?
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Read the thread. Most of that has been covered.
 
meyers7 said:
Salary cap. Draft. They don't like to deal with stuff like that. They like to do whatever they want.
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Good point. A rich guy couldn't just operate a WNBA team and pay the players more under the current WNBA rules - still have salary cap. He would need to buy the whole league or recruit his rich buddies to buy most of the other teams so they could change the rules.

OK back to reality. IMO the laws of economics (ie. the laws of nature) will ultimately prevail. So the WNBA needs to figure out how to appeal to more fans or they're in real trouble.
 
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