NIL, Paige & The WNBA

[RockyMTblue2]

Sue Bird says Paige should flee to WNBA as soon as she can, but if NIL takes hold the NCAA exposure and March is potentially big money. She does it on ESPN around 3:20 it starts.

 

[chrissaran]

If allowed, Paige can make more money due to her branding than playing basketball anywhere in the world.

 

[chrissaran]

Paige is about friendships, like she has with the team and with Azzi. Believe she'll stay all 4 years.

 

[dtbtbtb]

How long will it take before some Russian team waives a $1 million contract in front of her....

 

[Childhood]

Fact: Paige's instagram gets 60K new followers through the tournament.

She has the market to make money.

 

[LCConnFan]

So these institutions are allowed to dangle 'carrots' in 18 yr. old faces, before they have, IMO, matured. Truly it's because they care so much for these athletes! So the player leaves for 'greener' pastures, finds out they can't cut it in professional sports..............or worse, gets hurt and now has nothing, no education to fall back on! Brilliant. No career, no education, no future. I guess there's always 'retail' or a fast food outlet, huh?

 

[hoopsfan22]

So these institutions are allowed to dangle 'carrots' in 18 yr. old faces, before they have, IMO, matured. Truly it's because they care so much for these athletes! So the player leaves for 'greener' pastures, finds out they can't cut it in professional sports..............or worse, gets hurt and now has nothing, no education to fall back on! Brilliant. No career, no education, no future. I guess there's always 'retail' or a fast food outlet, huh?

A few years of making a million dollars a year, you don't really need to worry about falling back on anything. It's life changing money in most of the country.

 

[LCConnFan]

A few years of making a million dollars a year, you don't really need to worry about falling back on anything. It's life changing money in most of the country.

And of course, as seen with most celebrities, money always translates to happiness.

 

[oldude]

If allowed, Paige can make more money due to her branding than playing basketball anywhere in the world.

This is an interesting thought. I expect that Women’s college basketball in the US has much higher ratings, attendance and more media coverage than the WNBA.

In the pros the maximum salary in the W is $1.3 million plus whatever Paige can earn overseas. Paige could earn 10 times that with a Nike contract alone, and Nike just might prefer Paige remain in college until her eligibility is done.

 

[Stymie]

Sue Bird says Paige should flee to WNBA as soon as she can, but if NIL takes hold the NCAA exposure and March is potentially big money. She does it on ESPN around 3:20 it starts.

That’s not what I heard her say....

 

[eebmg]

How long will it take before some Russian team waives a $1 million contract in front of her....

and disappears from the minds and eyes of everyone.

She has big plans for UConn, WNBA and Olympics and growing BB in the US. NIL will open up and the cash will flow and then she can play with Breanna Stewart on the Russian super team

 

[Fairfield Fan]

How long will it take before some Russian team waives a $1 million contract in front of her....

Exactly. If she can pull down a couple of million dollars overseas before she would have graduated, how much will those other things be worth? If she might anyway damage a knee or an ankle, permanently injuring herself and either eliminating the prospect of profiting from playing as a pro, what would you decide?

Paige has accomplished almost everything she possibly could in college, and in just one year. Just the NC remains.

No male basketball player would hesitate for an instant. Why should we demand that women sacrifice their future earnings and financial security "for the love of the game"?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

and disappears from the minds and eyes of everyone.

She has big plans for UConn, WNBA and Olympics and growing BB in the US. NIL will open up and the cash will flow and then she can play with Breanna Stewart on the Russian super team

Men's soccer stars from the U.S. virtually all go overseas to seek their fortune, returning to play in the Olympics and World Cup. Why couldn't Paige do the same? How much more will her "brand" be worth if she holds out until after her senior year to play for the WNBA and work for a five-figure salary for several years until she can get more? Why is that attractive to a top woman athlete?

The unfairness of the pro game for women is beginning to be glaring.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

If allowed, Paige can make more money due to her branding than playing basketball anywhere in the world.

"If allowed..." That's a big "if." Even if it happens, will the NCAA really permit significant earnings by college athletes? I'm guessing they'll fight a rearguard action for years.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

That’s not what I heard her say....

Might want to play it again. Just a suggestion.