Jones - who previously said that she'd make her entire WNBA salary, $205,000 in 2022, in one month playing in Russia - said she took a "huge" pay cut when she signed with Mersin but is still making "really good money." But there's no question the salaries Stewart, Jones, Meesseman and Vandersloot will make in Turkey and Hungary will be significantly less than what they made with Ekat, which like many Russian teams is backed by large corporations controlled by oligarchs. With the French, Spanish and Turkish leagues thriving, Russian teams outside of Ekaterinburg haven't dominated the international basketball landscape in recent years, at least in terms of quality of play. "And then I don't know what's happening with basketball."Īdded Chicago's Meesseman, a native of Belgium: "I don't see a lot of people going to Russia while the war is still going on." How much will they make? "To be honest, my time in Russia has been wonderful, but especially with BG still being wrongfully detained there, nobody's going to Russia until she's home," the Seattle Storm's Stewart told ESPN in Chicago. travel advisory for Turkey is a Level 2 "exercise increased caution," while Hungary is listed as a Level 1 "exercise normal precautions." All three clubs are part of FIBA's EuroLeague, from which Russian teams like Ekaterinburg are currently banned. Stewart, Jones and Meesseman have signed with Turkish clubs for this coming offseason - Stewart and Meesseman with Fenerbahce, Jones with Mersin - while Vandersloot will play for Hungary's Sopron. And the Connecticut Sun's Jones, the reigning WNBA MVP, had re-signed with the club earlier this year.īut the United States' travel advisory continues to designate Russia a Level 4 "do not travel." And the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the sport's governing body, also sanctioned Russian teams from participating in international events. Vandersloot, a 12-year WNBA veteran who helped lead the Chicago Sky to their first title last year, had aimed to finish her overseas career with Ekaterinburg before the war started. The players uniformly said they had positive experiences playing in Russia. Where are they headed, how has the salary structure changed and what challenges loom for WNBA players looking to spend their offseasons competing and earning salaries overseas? ![]() Given Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, strained U.S.-Russian relations and Griner's prolonged detainment, returning to play in Russia was not a viable option for the former Ekaterinburg players captured in that photo, some of the most recognizable faces in the sport and Griner's teammates and friends. That won't be the case this coming WNBA offseason. ![]() ![]() Between 20, Ekaterinburg won five EuroLeague titles. government considers to be a wrongful detainee.įor decades, Russian clubs such as Ekaterinburg were the crown jewel of the overseas playing experience for WNBA and other international stars, where superteams were formed, dominated and won championships, and where some players earned seven-figure salaries and received the amenities and resources befitting of the top professional basketball players in the world. ![]() Griner's trial began July 1, and sources expect a verdict and sentence later this week as Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to urge Russia to accept a deal for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, another American the U.S. "Special place in my heart #ekat," Quigley captioned the Instagram story of the five of them - plus Stewart's baby, Ruby - before adding "missing BG."īrittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and their former Ekaterinburg teammate, has been detained in Russia for 166 days after Russian officials said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil as she was entering the country in February to play for the team. But their shared experience playing together the past couple seasons on Russian club team UMMC Ekaterinburg prompted them to snag a quick pic. In fact, Quigley wasn't even an All-Star. The quintet wasn't all on Team Stewart or Team Wilson. CHICAGO - Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley made sure to get a photo together after the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.
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