Carlton signs Australian contract

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Looked a little and it's only a 21 game regular season. Weird that the season runs from Oct to January, seems they only play twice a week or so. I can think of worse places to spend our fall and winter than Queensland's spring and summer.

Didn't recognize any names other than Nia Coffey, Minnesota gal who played at Northwestern, and Kelsey Griffin, who was a star at Nebraska and the WNBL MVP last season.
 
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A lot of the WNBA players play overseas during the WNBA offseason. I think I saw somewhere some get paid more overseas than here in the states.
 
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Wow, she's going to be in the sticks in Townsville. Good for her career and it seems like they win championships there.

The comments on here were right -- you can't really make a good living in the WNBA. Most top players see it as almost a showcase for overseas teams to evaluate you. Plus, it's a chance to play at the most competitive (club) level but it's NOT a way to get rich. I guess a handful of players might get some endorsement money but I'm guessing that's a limited pool.
 
While it pales in comparison to NBA, I think many people would take a job for $42,000 for five months of work.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/top-wnba-nba-salaries-2019/

Even though WNBA players will enjoy a modest salary increase in the upcoming 2019-20 season, they will still earn about 20% of the minimum salary of an NBA player even though they’re essentially doing the same job, according to CNBC. Young, for example, will gross a mere $53,537 despite being the No. 1 draft pick and a standout player during her collegiate career at Notre Dame. Meanwhile, most of the other rookies will earn even less with a starting salary of $41,965. That’s nearly $20,000 less than the median U.S. household income. In comparison, the starting salary for the NBA for the 2018–19 season was $582,180. Overall, the average WNBA players make around $79,000 while the maximum salary caps at $117,500. The minimum player salary for players with three or more years of service is $56,375.
 
While it pales in comparison to NBA, I think many people would take a job for $42,000 for five months of work.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/top-wnba-nba-salaries-2019/

Even though WNBA players will enjoy a modest salary increase in the upcoming 2019-20 season, they will still earn about 20% of the minimum salary of an NBA player even though they’re essentially doing the same job, according to CNBC. Young, for example, will gross a mere $53,537 despite being the No. 1 draft pick and a standout player during her collegiate career at Notre Dame. Meanwhile, most of the other rookies will earn even less with a starting salary of $41,965. That’s nearly $20,000 less than the median U.S. household income. In comparison, the starting salary for the NBA for the 2018–19 season was $582,180. Overall, the average WNBA players make around $79,000 while the maximum salary caps at $117,500. The minimum player salary for players with three or more years of service is $56,375.

I know they are fighting for more money each year, but the reality is there are a lot less people that watch the WNBA. Can't pay them more when the money isn't there.
 
I know they are fighting for more money each year, but the reality is there are a lot less people that watch the WNBA. Can't pay them more when the money isn't there.

I don't have time to find the article, but basically the WNBA research has shown that the WNBA growth is actually ahead of where the NBA was at this stage in terms of viewership and attendance. I think the WNBA in general has made some major wins and major mistakes. Last year, 4 of the 12 teams played in a different arena last year than where they played in 2017, and San Antonio went to Vegas. Like the WNBA, the star players are important and if more top players choose to pull a Taurasi and not play in the WNBA because of their Euro commitments, that will hurt.

I bought Chicago Sky season tickets basically because it is the only pro sport ticket I could afford in this city. 6th row half court line tickets for $25 a ticket.
 
Wow, she's going to be in the sticks in Townsville. Good for her career and it seems like they win championships there.

The comments on here were right -- you can't really make a good living in the WNBA. Most top players see it as almost a showcase for overseas teams to evaluate you. Plus, it's a chance to play at the most competitive (club) level but it's NOT a way to get rich. I guess a handful of players might get some endorsement money but I'm guessing that's a limited pool.

I haven't ever been to Australia but it looks like Townsville is in a pretty decent sized metro area, right along the coast. Looks like an awesome place to spend a few years as a young professional athlete.
 
While it pales in comparison to NBA, I think many people would take a job for $42,000 for five months of work.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/top-wnba-nba-salaries-2019/

Even though WNBA players will enjoy a modest salary increase in the upcoming 2019-20 season, they will still earn about 20% of the minimum salary of an NBA player even though they’re essentially doing the same job, according to CNBC. Young, for example, will gross a mere $53,537 despite being the No. 1 draft pick and a standout player during her collegiate career at Notre Dame. Meanwhile, most of the other rookies will earn even less with a starting salary of $41,965. That’s nearly $20,000 less than the median U.S. household income. In comparison, the starting salary for the NBA for the 2018–19 season was $582,180. Overall, the average WNBA players make around $79,000 while the maximum salary caps at $117,500. The minimum player salary for players with three or more years of service is $56,375.

They are not essentially doing the same job. Women's basketball and Men's basketball are only similar in they have a basketball and score points. If the women want to make NBA money they should be in the NBA. I know it is not politically correct to say so but the athleticism of the NBA is light years ahead of the WNBA.
 
The UMN gophers women's bball coach played in the WNBA at the same time, so I think it's common for these women to have multiple jobs.
 
Interesting tid-bits: "the licence was assumed by Townsville Fire Limited – a not-for-profit entity – to run as a community owned-club in 2011/12."

The "JCU" of JCU Townsville Fire is James Cook University. They are a "Major Partner" (sponsor) and others include the Australian Army. Not a team of university students!
 
I don't have time to find the article, but basically the WNBA research has shown that the WNBA growth is actually ahead of where the NBA was at this stage in terms of viewership and attendance. I think the WNBA in general has made some major wins and major mistakes. Last year, 4 of the 12 teams played in a different arena last year than where they played in 2017, and San Antonio went to Vegas. Like the WNBA, the star players are important and if more top players choose to pull a Taurasi and not play in the WNBA because of their Euro commitments, that will hurt.

I bought Chicago Sky season tickets basically because it is the only pro sport ticket I could afford in this city. 6th row half court line tickets for $25 a ticket.

Are you comparing the 23rd WBNA season vs the NBA's 23rd season?
 
saw a familiar name on that roster....Julie Vanloo....

Ha, now I get it! I saw the name and it looked familiar and looked but couldn't figure it out because she didn't play NCAA per her bio. Your comment triggered my memory that we had tried to recruit her. No thanks to the NCAA she never did play USA ball and stayed in Europe.
 
Ha, now I get it! I saw the name and it looked familiar and looked but couldn't figure it out because she didn't play NCAA per her bio. Your comment triggered my memory that we had tried to recruit her. No thanks to the NCAA she never did play USA ball and stayed in Europe.

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