Could UConn star Paige Bueckers the face of a new women’s professional basketball league that opposes the WNBA?
Her new NIL deal certainly makes it seem like a possibility.
With a 10-15 percent ownership pool for players, Unrivaled has been aggressive with pursuit of WNBA stars by offering highest average salaries in women’s sports history. League cap for the 30 players will be at least $7.5 million, an average of $250,000.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2024
Bueckers signed a new deal with the Unrivaled pro basketball league on Thursday. As part of the deal, Bueckers takes an equity stake in the league, which was founded by current WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and reining MVP Breana Stewart.
Bueckers also became the first college athlete to hold an equity stake in a professional league by doing so.
Could Paige Bueckers’ New NIL Deal Be A Concern For The WNBA
Just recently, Unrivaled announced the signing of star WNBA rookie Angel Reese as well.
So, what exactly is Unrivaled?
According to the league’s website, it’s “An innovative 3v3 professional women’s basketball league founded by two current U.S. Olympians, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. The league will feature 6 teams, with 5 players on each team. The inaugural season is January of 2025 in Miami.”
But it’s not exactly what you’d consider a convenitonal basketball league.
“Unrivaled will feature a brand new style of 3v3 basketball. The games will be played on a compressed full-court (70X50 feet). The league is also setting a record with the highest average salaries in women’s sports history. All 30 initial players will receive equity ownership.”
Stewart, Collier and Reese will all join Bueckers in the league. But they won’t be alone. Fellow WNBA superstars such as Kelsey Plum, Arike Ogunbowale and Kahleah Copper are all signed to the league.
The news comes just days after Bill Simmons suggested a new league could rise up and challenge the WNBA.
“That’s where we’re headed in the next two years,” Simmons said. “The thing that I think is gonna happen is I think somebody is gonna try to form an alternate league. Cause it’s not like all of these WNBA players are tied to their teams forever.”
Unrivalved may not be that. But it certainly poses a threat to the WNBA.
The post Paige Bueckers Signs New NIL Deal That Binds Her To Non-WNBA Professional League appeared first on BroBible.
Paige Bueckers Signs New NIL Deal That Binds Her To Non-WNBA Professional League
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