The WNBA is investigating the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces after every player on the roster signed a $100,000 sponsorship deal.
On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau announced it would sponsor all players with $100,000, two-year contracts. The organization posted a video on social media in which leaders communicated this to the players.
In the video, Steve Hill, the tourism board’s president and CEO, told the players, “Our offer is very simple: Just play, keep ripping in Las Vegas, and win our third straight championship. If we can achieve that, it will turn into ice.” on the cake.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that each player will sign a contract that “will give them a mutually agreeable opportunity to represent Las Vegas” and will receive equipment to wear to promote the city.
However, each player signed a contract to “receive a mutually agreeable opportunity to represent Las Vegas.” LVCVA will also provide players with Las Vegas-centric gear that they can expect to wear to promote Las Vegas.
Officials said the deal was brokered directly with each player’s agent, bypassing the team, to avoid violating the WNBA’s salary cap rules. Officials say the team had no knowledge of the deal. However, a WNBA spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the league has opened an investigation into the matter.
Why is the WNBA investigating the Las Vegas Aces?
The league has not said why it is investigating the Aces, but whether the sponsorship actually violates the salary cap despite its similarities to name-imagination-likeness (NIL) contracts for college athletes. It may be related to something. ESPN said the league will investigate whether the deal “violates the spirit of the cap rules” in that it gives teams a recruiting advantage and gives players additional incentive to sign with Las Vegas. Reported.
The WNBA’s salary cap is $1.4 million, and the team’s contract with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau gives the team a total cap of $1.2 million.
The contract is worth more than half of the roster earned on WNBA contracts. According to Spotrac, six of his 12 players on the roster earn less than his $100,000. According to the website, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plumb are the top earners at $200,000 each, while newcomers Daiisha Fair and Kate Martin are making the team’s lowest salary this season at $67,249. It is said that
Sidney Colson, a security guard who earns $76,535, said on social media that it was a “life-changing investment,” according to Spotrac.
“We are so grateful and love representing this city!” she said.
Ace coaches and players react to survey
The investigative report surfaced Saturday during Las Vegas’ home win over the Los Angeles Sparks. After the game, head coach Becky Hammon was asked about the deal. She noted that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau wanted to sponsor the entire team, but no team staff or front office personnel were contacted.
“From what I understand, they wanted the whole team, so they brought in individuals, agents,” Hammon said. “I don’t know the details. I had nothing to do with it. Neither did Ace. It’s weird, but that’s basically what happened.”
Wilson said he learned about the investigation after the game and was confused.
“I don’t understand what the investigation is about,” Wilson said. “I haven’t jumped into it yet. I just looked at my phone and thought, ‘Oh, wow, another day in Ace’s life.'” You can never start normally, and there’s always something. happens and that’s okay. ”
Wilson added on social media: “What happened to the growth of the game?”
Las Vegas was under investigation by the WNBA before the 2023 season. Hammon was suspended without pay for the first two games of the season, and the team lost its 2025 first-round draft pick after the league ruled that the ace violated league rules regarding workplace policies and player welfare. lost. The WNBA announced that the Aces promised unacceptable benefits in contract extension negotiations with former forward Dearica Hamby and that Hammon made comments to Hamby regarding her pregnancy.
Las Vegas is 2-0 this season as it seeks its first three-straight WNBA Finals since the Houston Comets won the first four league titles from 1997-2000.
Contributed by: Jeff Zillgitt
