WNBA -- 2023 Season

[cancontent]

There are a number of challenges for American citizens playing or investing in Canada. While travel is a significant challenge I think most participants would focus on pay differentials due to the high taxation policy of our neighbors to the north. Given the relatively high tax rates in Canada this disincentives both potential owners and certainly players.

1. Tax burden. Comparing Canada's relatively high income tax rates which are imposed on visiting athletes to lower tax rates and zero tax rates in many states in the United States create a disincentive for athletes to either play in Canada or be based in Canada.

"The difference in tax rates between Canada + province versus US + state income taxes make big difference. For example, an NBA player playing for the Toronto Raptors would pay Canadian and Ontario income taxes, which are much higher than, say someone playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Not only the income taxes higher, but the Canadian tax law also prohibits deducting employment expenses, such as agent fees.

Raptors players pay about 2/3 of their income in Canadian rates (home games and stays in Toronto during the season)."

Do American Pro athletes have a financial disadvantage playing sports in Canada?

Answer (1 of 3): Yes. The difference in tax rates between Canada + province versus US + state income taxes make big difference. For example, an NBA player playing for the Toronto Raptors would pay Canadian and Ontario income taxes, which are much higher than, say someone playing for the Dallas Ma...

www.quora.com

"Toronto is now the worst place to play in the NBA, with a gap of approximately 4% between teams with home games in cities with no state or city tax. "

No Longer a Myth – American Athletes Pay More in Toronto

It's the time of year when we exchange dreams of wearing the uniform of our cherished Maple Leafs or Raptors, to dreams of wearing a suit and making big financial and personnel decisions for the teams. If you're like me, you have read all the rumours and speculate who we will trade for and who...

www.mondaq.com

2. The continuing problem of flying commercial versus charter will be exacerbated with Canadian teams. Ownership of that Canadian team given current WNBA policy will have as you point out significantly more complexity in travel and certainly appreciably higher travel costs.

I hear you regarding taxes and investments. If MLSE is the group who ends up owning the franchise, that helps to negate the issues of investment as they're a Canadian group and have the experience to deal with these challenges.

Playing in Canada hasn't scared off quality NBA or NHL players from making Toronto their home. In some cases, their contracts are paid in USD to help deal with some of those challenges as well.

It's not easy, but it's possible. Only time will tell in the end.

 

[BRS24]

Dallas Wings have waived Abby Meyers.

 

[Dillon77]

On one hand, a slightly raised eyebrow that such a good talent (first-round material) got cut pretty early.

On the other, one could've seen this coming. Dallas GM Greg Bibb is known for focusing on a position and then bringing in players. And more players. Maybe even more! Marina Mabrey and Alisha Gray leave and in comes Diamond DeShields to join Arike Ogunbowale and Jasmine Dickey.

So Bibb drafts Lou Lopez Senechal, Abby Meyers and Ashley Joens. Meyers got five minutes in the first game and 1+ in the second. Dickey and Joens pretty much the same. Lou, of course, is out with an injury. On top of this, they've moved Satou Sabally to the wing (at least for now).

Who knows? Might be a blessing in disguise for Meyers to find another team that needs a smart, accurate scorer. On the other hand, just so many slots ....

 

[BRS24]

On one hand, a slightly raised eyebrow that such a good talent (first-round material) got cut pretty early.

On the other, one could've seen this coming. Dallas GM is known for focusing on a position and then bringing in players. And more players. Maybe even more! Marina Mabrey and Alisha Gray leave and in come Diamond DeShields to join Arike Ogunbowale and Jasmine Dickey.
So he drafts Lou Lopez Senechal, Abby Meyers and Ashley Joens. Meyers got five minutes in the first game and 1+ in the second. Dickey and Joens pretty much the same. Lou, of course, is out with an injury. On top of this, they've moved Satou Sabally to the wing (at least for now).

Who knows? Might be a blessing in disguise for Meyers to find another team that needs a smart, accurate scorer. On the other hand, just so many slots ....

In my limited knowledge of WCBB and the WNBA, I view Meyers and Westbrook in a similar vein - smart, older players, came into a program and immediately melded into the team, providing some leadership, maturity, and a few other nuts/bolts to help the teams win.

On edit, Lou LS also.

 

[cancontent]

A decent start for national TV coverage for the season.

 

[rvwsleep]

I was looking for tickets for the Sun- Liberty game on May 27 at the Barclay Center. I attached two screenshots of the tickets that came up on Stub Hub.
The least expensive and most expensive.

$147 in fees per ticket !!!

 

[darrell]

I was looking for tickets for the Sun- Liberty game on May 27 at the Barclay Center. I attached two screenshots of the tickets that came up on Stub Hub.
The least expensive and most expensive.

$147 in fees per ticket !!!

I will never support resale sites like StubHub. If I don’t get my tickets through the official vendor like TicketMaster, I simply won’t attend. Overcharging is ridiculous.

 

[BullDawg]

I appreciate your reaction which is a very common one. Many are unaware or underestimate the importance of middlemen in facilitating the expansion of the market and allowing the market to maximize what economists refer to as consumer surplus.


Just like other languages, think music, price conveys a tremendous amount of information in a concise and uniform manner.

One of the beauties of voluntary exchange is that it's mutually beneficial and to the extent that that voluntary exchange is not hindered or encumbered it maximizes the benefit to all involved parties.

Hayek, correctly, called this a marvel.

StubHub allows others who really really want to see an event to express that choice through the market mechanism that provides the foundation for collaboration and mutually beneficial voluntary exchange.

So you can voluntarily choose not to participate in a StubHub activity but others can.

It's a beautiful thing.

I find it more chaotic than beautiful, often demonstrating ignorance of elasticity of demand.

 

[Rb335]

I was looking for tickets for the Sun- Liberty game on May 27 at the Barclay Center. I attached two screenshots of the tickets that came up on Stub Hub.
The least expensive and most expensive.

$147 in fees per ticket !!!

I believe the liberty utilize Ticketmaster. Just looked there and cheapest tickets are 35 dollars.

 

[darrell]

I appreciate your reaction which is a very common one. Many are unaware or underestimate the importance of middlemen in facilitating the expansion of the market and allowing the market to maximize what economists refer to as consumer surplus.


Just like other languages, think music, price conveys a tremendous amount of information in a concise and uniform manner.

One of the beauties of voluntary exchange is that it's mutually beneficial and to the extent that that voluntary exchange is not hindered or encumbered it maximizes the benefit to all involved parties.

Hayek, correctly, called this a marvel.

StubHub allows others who really really want to see an event to express that choice through the market mechanism that provides the foundation for collaboration and mutually beneficial voluntary exchange.

So you can voluntarily choose not to participate in a StubHub activity but others can.

It's a beautiful thing.

I am not and will never be a fan of scalping. Buying tickets to an event that you have no intentions on attending for the sole purpose of making a profit is not a good thing.

 

[BRS24]

 

[Dillon77]

Unfortunately, not a total surprise. Czinano was celebrated in her college career for positioning herself so well (sealing, etc.) that she rarely had to dribble before going up for the shot. Gaining that real estate -- even in training camp -- was going to be hard when you're going against posts just as big and/or fast/faster than you. And these players can block (hello, Azura Stevens!).
So, Czinano is now in a place where she has to leave that Jan Jensen-taught comfort zone and expand her game.

This, of course, is very similar to what happened to Megan Gustafsson. But I think Gustafsson has a major advantage over the current Czinano: she has and still can rebound very well. More than 10 a game at Iowa and she boxes out out and grabs those rebounds here and in the Euroleagues. We'll see if Megan hangs in for a second year of a full contract with the Mercury (so far, so good), where she'll back up Brittany Griner. But she put in a lot of work to become more than a catch and shoot post. Czinano's turn, if she wants to take on the task.

 

[Geew1992]

When is the cut off to waive players?

 

[Tangential]

When is the cut off to waive players?

5 pm ET Thursday

 

[Tangential]

When is the cut off to waive players?

Is anyone expecting/advocating any bold cuts? I'll throw out one that I think has a low probability of occurring, but would behoove the team in my opinion. Fever cut VV. Although she has started a majority of her games in her W career, she is a very inefficient player. Loved her at MSU, but this would give Indiana a chance to evaluate more younger players that might have higher upsides.

 

[Geew1992]

Is anyone expecting/advocating any bold cuts? I'll throw out one that I think has a low probability of occurring, but would behoove the team in my opinion. Fever cut VV. Although she has started a majority of her games in her W career, she is a very inefficient player. Loved her at MSU, but this would give Indiana a chance to evaluate more younger players that might have higher upsides.

I don't know if I expect any bold cuts. There may be another first rounder or 2 that will. If the Fever were thinking of cutting VV, wouldn't they have kept Engsler?

 

[Tangential]

I don't know if I expect any bold cuts. There may be another first rounder or 2 that will. If the Fever were thinking of cutting VV, wouldn't they have kept Engsler?

Waiving Engstler before camp was very curious (i.e., I strongly disagree) regardless of Vivian's fate. The explanation that many on this board gave was that it related to her back injury, but apparently that wasn't the case as she was quickly acquired by the Mystics and played in the preseason. I do think that she is a better fit for a very good team than a rebuilding one based on her skill set, but that doesn't apply as an excuse for Indiana's questionable decision.

 

[Dillon77]

Waiving Engstler before camp was very curious (i.e., I strongly disagree) regardless of Vivian's fate. The explanation that many on this board gave was that it related to her back injury, but apparently that wasn't the case as she was quickly acquired by the Mystics and played in the preseason. I do think that she is a better fit for a very good team than a rebuilding one based on her skill set, but that doesn't apply as an excuse for Indiana's questionable decision.

Speaking of Engstler, there's going to have to be a somewhat surprising cut on the Mystics for EE to make the roster. Jazmine Jones, another Louisville product? Li Ming, from China? Or is Myisha Hines-Allen not quite ready to be game-ready?

The other team I'd be looking at is Minnesota. They still have 4 rookies on the 15-person roster: Diamond Miller, Dorkha Juhasz, Brea Beal and Taylor Soule.

Natalie Achonwa is on maternity leave (and I don't think that counts against rosters any more...right?), so that would knock it down to 14. Two people have to go. Will one be a rookie? (My guess, Soule or Beal). Or will a vet also be included? Reeves, like many coaches, has her favorites, but I'm guessing Danta and Milic are much the same player as Juhasz. And what about Carleton or Banham? Stay tuned.

 

[Tangential]

I don't know if I expect any bold cuts. There may be another first rounder or 2 that will. If the Fever were thinking of cutting VV, wouldn't they have kept Engsler?

Obviously, this year's cornerstone will be Mitchell, Boston, and Smith (who I predict will have a more productive year than Boston) and they brought in Wheeler for experience and leadership, but they need to give significant minutes to Hull, Caldwell, Berger, Henny, Egbo, and Mikesell to assess their potential ceilings. I'm not even 100% sure that Caldwell & Mikesell make the final roster, but I believe it would be a big mistake to waive either.

On a side note, I just saw the Wings exercised Collier's option. I don't agree. Your thoughts Dillon77?

 

[Tangential]

Speaking of Engstler, there's going to have to be a somewhat surprising cut on the Mystics for EE to make the roster. Jazmine Jones, another Louisville product? Li Ming, from China? Or is Myisha Hines-Allen not quite ready to be game-ready?

The other team I'd be looking at is Minnesota. They still have 4 rookies on the 15-person roster: Diamond Miller, Dorkha Juhasz, Brea Beal and Taylor Soule.

Natalie Achonwa is on maternity leave (and I don't think that counts against rosters any more...right?), so that would knock it down to 14. Two people have to go. Will one be a rookie? (My guess, Soule or Beal). Or will a vet also be included? Reeves, like many coaches, has her favorites, but I'm guessing Danta and Milic are much the same player as Juhasz. And what about Carleton or Banham? Stay tuned.

Very interesting decisions.

I like Jazmine Jones hustle, enthusiasm, work ethic, etc. but she has had difficulty latching on in her brief career (OTOH, teams keep affording her opportunities). Don't know much about Ming nor MHA's health (obviously, if she's good to go, she's a keeper).

Maternity leave is a roster exemption. I really think that Soule would be a good 11th or 12th player on that team, but I fear that the numbers game will work against her. I would definitely waive 1 or 2 of the 4 veterans that you mentioned.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Is anyone expecting/advocating any bold cuts? I'll throw out one that I think has a low probability of occurring, but would behoove the team in my opinion. Fever cut VV. Although she has started a majority of her games in her W career, she is a very inefficient player. Loved her at MSU, but this would give Indiana a chance to evaluate more younger players that might have higher upsides.

I don't see it they need veterans and she'll probably stay from that alone.

 

[Tangential]

I don't see it they need veterans and she'll probably stay from that alone.

I agree that she will probably stay, but they are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot this year, so I think that they should ascertain the potential of younger players instead. She will likely play a good amount of minutes and hoist a lot of shots in those minutes, which won't allow that to occur as much. They will be starting 2 veterans in Mitchell and Wheeler.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I agree that she will probably stay, but they are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot this year, so I think that they should ascertain the potential of younger players instead. She will likely play a good amount of minutes and hoist a lot of shots in those minutes, which won't allow that to occur as much. They will be starting 2 veterans in Mitchell and Wheeler.

Yeah I get it, but that would mean they would have only 3 veterans assuming they keep Cannon, that would them leave with 9 players who are either first or second year players. I think the Fever are at least trying to move on from that 12th spot and they'll need whatever experience they can get.

 

[darrell]

 

[darrell]

 

[jdote33]

Some nasty cuts today already. I really don't get how Kiki Herbert Harrigan is not on a roster. 6'2, good length, very good defender, can shoot. 24 years young.

I saw Brea Beal got cut. I was/am pulling for her. If she gets overseas experience and gets the opportunity to really expand her game offensively ( I personally think she's better on that end then her numbers show) hopefully she'll get another opportunity.

 

[BRS24]

There are a few teams at 14 as of today, and man, I wouldn't wish the decision on any GM/coach to get to 12.

 

[Tangential]

Some nasty cuts today already. I really don't get how Kiki Herbert Harrigan is not on a roster. 6'2, good length, very good defender, can shoot. 24 years young.

I saw Brea Beal got cut. I was/am pulling for her. If she gets overseas experience and gets the opportunity to really expand her game offensively ( I personally think she's better on that end then her numbers show) hopefully she'll get another opportunity.

I completely agree that Kiki is worthy of a roster spot somewhere.

I agree that Brea is better on the offensive end relative to her numbers, but I don't think that she is as good of an on-ball defender as her reputation. I saw several elite (similar to WNBA competition) college players beat her off the dribble in the tournaments and other marquee match ups.

 

[Carnac]

WNBA transactions today - Tuesday, May 16, 2023

WNBA Player Movement & Transactions | WNBA

Get the latest on player movement across the WNBA. Trades, signings, waivers and more.

www.wnba.com

WNBA Transforms WNBA App and WNBA.com Into Ultimate Destinations for Basketball Fans​

 

[Tangential]

Who is the Fever's backup 1? Wheeler did not have a great year for the Dream last year -- had some quality performances late though.