This may be the first of many WNBA players who are underpaid and overlooked as professionals who will opt to stay healthy and get paid overseas. Taurasi who is the Reigning WNBA finals MVP will not be taking her talents back to Phoenix for this upcoming 2015 season instead she opted to forgo her 2015 season not because of injury but for rest. Taurasi Russian league team UMMC Ekaterinburg has agreed to PAY their star guard to rest. Taurasi wrote an open letter to her WNBA fans earlier today explaining her decision.
“The year-round nature of women’s basketball takes its toll and the financial opportunity with my team in Russia would have been irresponsible to turn down,” she explained. ” They offered to pay me to rest and I’ve decided to take them up on it. I want to be able to take care of myself and my family when I am done playing.”
This is genius of the Russian League team, they will be able to have their star player rest and at the same time bring new fans to their league. This will not be the last we hear of WNBA player opting to rest and go for the money overseas. Taurasi doesn’t want to be taken as a money hungry professional, she does intend on come back for the 2016 season.
H/T SI