LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide $100,000 in annual sponsorships to each Ace player this season and into 2025.
“I’ve always said the city of Las Vegas is a big, small city and they just want the best for the people here,” point guard Chelsea Gray said of the A’s home game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. He spoke before the game. “They’re investing in us, so we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We’ve done a lot for the city and we’re enjoying it.
“It was a great moment for me and my teammates to have someone actually fund it and say they support us and want to cheer us on.”
Officials posted a video to X on Friday of President and CEO Steve Hill breaking the news to players in the locker room.
“The Aces continue their historic run as two-time world champions,” Hill said in a video before addressing his players. “We’re here to do something historic with them.”
And it will probably be controversial.
The sponsorship does not violate the WNBA’s salary cap because officials did not coordinate the sponsorship with the club. But other teams may question the fairness of the sponsorship and whether it violates the spirit of the cap rules.
A contract like this could be very lucrative for the ace to land a free agent if no other team can match the offer.
According to Spotrac, a website that tracks player salaries, sponsorships are more than the incomes of six ace players.
“Definitely more than my salary,” said newcomer Kate Martin, who earns $67,249 a year, according to the website. “I’m so grateful. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not a dream, but this is very real and all of these players deserve it. Past I wouldn’t have received this great bonus if it wasn’t for the great play of all the players over the years.”
$100,000 is a huge addition to what top players earn. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plumb are the highest paid aces at $200,000 each, followed by Gray at $196,267.
“Whether LVCVA understands our values and helps us close that pay gap says a lot about the character of the people there,” said Alisha Clark, whose salary is listed at $110,000. said. “So, I’m very grateful. It’s an honor to represent this organization and this city, to work for this city, to give back to this city, to serve the community. That’s what they do for us. That was really, really special.”
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Associated Press freelance writer WG Ramirez contributed to this report.
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