A’ja Wilson Questions WNBA’s Investigation of Aces’ $100,000 Sponsorships
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority offered each Aces player a $100,000 sponsorship that doesn’t violate salary cap rules.
The WNBA is looking further into the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s $100,000 sponsorship offered to all 12 Las Vegas Aces players earlier this week.
The WNBA intends to look into the contract, according to an ESPN story on Saturday. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the contract requires players to “reach mutually agreeable opportunities for appearances on Las Vegas’ behalf” and wear apparel with a Las Vegas theme.
Because the LVCVA dealt directly with each player and agency rather than the club, the sponsorship does not violate the WNBA’s salary cap. However, the league will decide whether or not the sponsorship goes against the spirit of the wage cap regulations.
A’ja Wilson, a top player for the Aces, learned of the probe soon after Las Vegas defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 89–82 on Saturday.
“When we’re talking about growing the game, when we’re talking about taking that next step, it can’t always be, ‘investigate, investigate, investigate,'” Wilson said following the game. “Our goal is to make a difference. Our goal is to improve conditions for clubs, players, and franchises.”
Six of the 12 Aces, including Kate Martin, Emma Cannon, Sydney Colson, Kierstan Bell, Dyaisha Fair, and Megan Gustafson, make less than $100,000 annually, according to Spotrac. Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who both earned $200,000 this season, are the team’s best paid players.
