WNBA investigating Vegas tourism sponsorship of Aces players - Sportcal

WNBA investigates controversial $100,000 sponsorship deal for Las Vegas Aces players, raising salary cap concerns and sparking league-wide debate.

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has launched an investigation into a controversial new sponsorship deal between the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and players from the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champions of the league. The government agency, which serves as the official destination marketing organization for Southern Nevada, has agreed to provide each player with a $100,000 annual sponsorship for the next two seasons.

While the sponsorship deal does not technically violate the WNBA's salary cap because it was not negotiated with the club, it has still raised concerns within the league. Other teams are expected to question the fairness of the sponsorship, especially since some Aces players currently earn less than $100,000 per year. Additionally, top earners at the franchise will see a significant increase in their income, pushing them above the salary cap limits.

Aces coach Becky Hammon has clarified that the tourism bureau approached individual players and their agents to set up the sponsorship deals, with the team organization not directly involved. This situation echoes a previous incident where the WNBA penalized the Aces for breaking league rules related to player benefits and workplace policies.

In other news, the New York Liberty set a new record for single-game ticket revenue in the WNBA during a game against the Indiana Fever featuring rising star Caitlin Clark. The Liberty generated over $2 million in ticket sales for the match at the Barclays Center, marking a historic achievement for the league. The game was a sell-out, with 17,735 fans in attendance.

Clark's debut for the Fever against the Connecticut Sun also drew significant attention, becoming the most-watched WNBA game since 2001. The opening night match garnered an average of 2.13 million viewers across ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, showcasing the growing popularity of the young star in the league.