I think a big con is the cost. Five players making $30,000 is $150,000. Benefits are at least $5,000. Four players in a large condo for four months is probably $15,000. Rental cars, etc., probably bring the total to $200,000. If a WNBA budget is $3 million, that's an additional 7% added to the expense side of the ledger. That said, I really like the idea. (Of course, teams never really practice during the season, and the players would be unavailable on the road, so I'm not sure what they would do with their time. Still ...)
Or how about an in-season Athletes Unlimited in a casino somewhere? Any team could call up any player from the AU, or a team (or teams) could sponsor a set of players.
I'm still unconvinced there's a lot of talent not on WNBA rosters, given the very limited impact the bottom three on WNBA rosters have on games now. If a team truly had 10 good players, the minutes would be more balanced than they are. As it stands, the starters are clearly and definitely a lot better than the reserves on almost every team.
May 8, 2022·edited May 8, 2022Liked by Cindy Smith
An about a $100k impact is such a laughably low amount to not do something like this. But maybe to separately fund it there could be a corporate sponsor, like “the [insert brand] practice squad”.
If the WNBA wants to grow they have to cut politics out of their organization scout players in div II and III schools not just div I this is a sport not science technology or other careers that requires education and training. Hire more practice squad players they be fine making low pay and good medical emergency insurance stop with the div I elite player worshiping who in my eyes aren’t that good.
I think a big con is the cost. Five players making $30,000 is $150,000. Benefits are at least $5,000. Four players in a large condo for four months is probably $15,000. Rental cars, etc., probably bring the total to $200,000. If a WNBA budget is $3 million, that's an additional 7% added to the expense side of the ledger. That said, I really like the idea. (Of course, teams never really practice during the season, and the players would be unavailable on the road, so I'm not sure what they would do with their time. Still ...)
Or how about an in-season Athletes Unlimited in a casino somewhere? Any team could call up any player from the AU, or a team (or teams) could sponsor a set of players.
I'm still unconvinced there's a lot of talent not on WNBA rosters, given the very limited impact the bottom three on WNBA rosters have on games now. If a team truly had 10 good players, the minutes would be more balanced than they are. As it stands, the starters are clearly and definitely a lot better than the reserves on almost every team.
An about a $100k impact is such a laughably low amount to not do something like this. But maybe to separately fund it there could be a corporate sponsor, like “the [insert brand] practice squad”.
If the WNBA wants to grow they have to cut politics out of their organization scout players in div II and III schools not just div I this is a sport not science technology or other careers that requires education and training. Hire more practice squad players they be fine making low pay and good medical emergency insurance stop with the div I elite player worshiping who in my eyes aren’t that good.