Like the NBA, the WNBA now has a plan in place to resume play in Florida next month. The WNBA announced today in a press release that it will play a 22-game regular season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, beginning in July.
We will continue to consult with medical experts and public health officials as well as players, team owners and other stakeholders as we move forward with our execution plan,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “And, despite the disruption caused by the global pandemic to our 2020 season, the WNBA and its Board of Governors believe strongly in supporting and valuing the elite women athletes who play in the WNBA and therefore, players will receive their full pay and benefits during the 2020 season.”
While the NBA was in the midst of its season when the pandemic forced a stoppage, the WNBA’s 2020 campaign had yet to tip off. The season, which would normally consist of 34 games, had originally been scheduled to begin on May 15, but was postponed indefinitely in April.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- As expected, the Ball brothers – Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, G League guard LiAngelo Ball, and projected 2020 lottery pick LaMelo Ball – have officially signed with Roc Nation Sports for representation, the agency announced today (Twitter link). An April report had indicated that the three brothers were joining Roc Nation together.
- Although Kyrie Irving has taken plenty of flak for his stance on resuming the season, Michael Lee of The Athletic argues that Irving is just doing his job as an NBPA vice president, and isn’t being an agitator just for the sake of it. In Lee’s view, Irving isn’t trying to blow up the NBA’s restart plan, but is making sure that players’ concerns are heard and addressed.
- Setting aside rookie contracts and maximum-salary deals, John Hollinger of The Athletic lists the 10 current free agent contracts that he feels represent the best value for teams. The Clippers‘ deal with Ivica Zubac, the Mavericks‘ with Dorian Finney-Smith, and the Celtics‘ with Marcus Smart top Hollinger’s list.
“LiAngelo held all the cards… he’s the best out of all my boys… the only way he was gonna sign with Roc Nation was if they signed Lonzo and Melo, too!”
Lavar Ball
None of them will ever amount to more than a second line player.
Luka salary 8 million，production 47 million
Shai salary 4 million production 23 million
Hollinger evaluation
“Free agent contracts”
The hatred that players who run the Unions in pro sports in this country get really exposes how anti-union so many right wing loudmouth-online types and pro-capitalists are: really horrible, nightmare people. How dare you. That’s what actual terrorism is in this country. Unions make us strong, you are arguing you want us weak. I hope union-haters spontaneously combust.
Not really sure comparing normal unions to professional sports unions is a great comparison. In general they really aren’t fighting for the same things…
Union membership is the lowest it’s ever been. I think workers are tired of those who run unions living in a lap of luxury from the proceeds of union fees
Talk about hating.
BTW unions are, or were, known for being a device that kept black workers excluded. Real workers trying to put food on the table, not these millionaires. Things are screwed up anymore regarding which workers actually have unions.
As long as the NBA’s union signs off on a CBA and a salary cap that sets a percentage of revenue for player cost, they have done their main job.
StrikeFour – you are the most intolerant person on this entire site. Yet you keep clamoring for tolerance. So ironic.
How is judging/chastising someone for their political affiliation not the same as judging someone based off of their religion, skin color, sexual preference, etc…
You are so prejudice, it’s really a shame in this day and age. No place for it anymore.
Could the Knicks make a play for the Ball brothers?
If they do Dolan will finally have a pair of balls
That LEGIT made me laugh out loud… Kudos for taking advantage of the perfect set-up!!
That was awesome totally agreed a true lol moment!
As a Celtic fan, I sure hope so !!
Couldn’t the parents of the three Ball brothers just named them….
Larry, Daryl and Darryl ???
Or
Darrell, Daryl and Darryl??
Surprised that Daddy Ball isn’t running the show himself. What happened to da shoe company that was gonna take Nike, Adidas, etc…, down?
When your son calls the product crap …that doesn’t help
Trial idea
Pelicans get Knicks 2020 unprotected pick
Knicks get Ball
Warriors get Knicks 2022 unprotected pick and 2021 Mavs pick
Knicks get Ball