- It was clarified that the sponsorship did not violate the WNBA salary cap
- This is because the Las Vegas authority did not orchestrate it with the team.
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Aces star A’ja Wilson is furious over a league investigation into team bonuses after a Las Vegas tourism board ‘sponsored’ each player with $100,000.
Last week, the Aces sparked public outrage after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors’ six-figure donation to the city’s 12-player professional women’s basketball team, although it was later clarified that the sponsorship did not violate the salary cap. of the WNBA because the Las Vegas authority did not orchestrate it with the club.
But other teams were likely raising questions about the fairness of the sponsorship and whether it violates the spirit of the cap rules because of the possibility that public funds, also known as local taxpayers’ money, may have been used.
‘Just another day in the life of the Aces. “We can’t start normally,” lamented Wilson, the Aces’ highest-scoring player last season.
‘There will always be something and that’s okay. When we talk about growing the game or taking the next step, you can’t always do the research. It has to be as if we are trying to improve things for the franchises, for the players and for the teams.”
Aces power forward A’ja Wilson regrets ongoing WNBA investigation into team
He begged to ask critics of the X sponsorship deal: “What happened to the growth of the game?”
Aces head coach Becky Hammon added: ‘Most sponsors look for the top two people. This situation, from what I understand, they wanted the entire team. Individual agents were called. I don’t know the details. I have nothing to do with that. The Aces have nothing to do with it. That’s what happened.’
This isn’t the Aces’ first run-in with the league in recent years. Last year, the WNBA suspended Hammon for two games and stripped the Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick because the franchise violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and labor policies.
Steve Hill, executive director and head of the authority, believes the local government agency did nothing wrong.
“We did this the right way,” he told The Associated Press on Saturday. ‘We did something that we think works for Las Vegas and I think it’s great for the players. We did this without the team. It was our idea and any question they ask they will find out.’
The authority posted a video on X of Hill telling the news to players in the locker room on Friday.
“We have 100 influencers that we pay to represent Las Vegas,” Hill told the AP. ‘This is no different than that. All of these women are fully eligible for sponsorship. We just ask that you represent Las Vegas.”
The players were excited by the move.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is a government agency supported by public funds.
“I’ve always said that the city of Las Vegas is a big, small city and they just want the best for the people here,” point guard Chelsea Gray said before the Aces’ home game Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. ‘They are investing in us and that is why they put their money into what they say. We’ve done a lot for the city and we had fun doing it.
“It was a great moment for me and my teammates, of someone actually putting up funds and saying they supported us and wanted to support us.”
According to the website Spotrac, which tracks player salaries, the endorsement is more than the earnings of six Aces players.
“Definitely more than my salary,” said rookie Kate Martin, who makes $67,249, according to the website. ‘I’m super grateful. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, but this is real life and that’s what all these players deserve. “I wouldn’t get this crazy bonus if it weren’t for how well all of these players have played over the last few years.”
The $100K is also a great addition to what even the best players earn. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are the highest-paid Aces at $200,000 each and Gray is right behind at $196,267.
“For the LVCVA to see our value and help close that pay gap says a lot about the character of the people who are there,” said Alysha Clark, whose salary is $110,000.
‘So I’m very grateful. I feel honored to be able to represent this organization and this city and to be able to perform for the city, contribute to this city and collaborate with the community, and that’s what they did for us. “It was really, really special.”
