Diana Taurasi has decided to sit out the upcoming 2015 WNBA season according to espnW writer Kate Fagan. Fagan states that the decision to sit out was at the Request of the Russia Club UMMC Ekaterinburg. Taurasi is currently under contract with the Russian team, which is paying her 1.5 million this season and more than her max WNBA salary of 107,000 last year with the Phoenix Mercury. She is under contract with the Phoenix Mercury and signed a contract extension with the team last year.
According to Taurasi “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 was a decision I felt was in my best interest, both now and for the future. I look forward to being back on the court in front of the best fans in the WNBA in 2016.”
The impact of her decision on the WNBA is yet to come because more players could be paid to sit out also. Currently the majority of WNBA players are under contract to play for other international teams in addition to their WNBA team. The precedent has been set and other international teams paying WNBA players more than their current WNBA teams could negotiate with players to sit out seasons as well. Other WNBA stars could be financially encouraged into making the same decision stars such as Brittney Griner, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Tamika Catchings, Swim Cash, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, Sylia Fowles just to name a few.
Fagan, K. (2015), Taurasi to rest, skip WNBA season
http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/12272047/diana-taurasi-opts-sit-2015-wnba-season
Fagan, K. (2015), Diana Taurasi’s decision to sit out should spark WNBA salary changes
Phoenix star guard will make more money not playing in the WNBA in 2015
http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/12272036/diana-taurasi-decision-sit-spark-wnba-salary-changes
Dr. Fred J. Cromartie, is the Director of Doctoral Studies at the United States Sports Academy, and can be reached at cromarti@ussa.edu.