Fenerbahçe S.K. - Women's Team

Fenerbahçe S.K. - A look at the WNBA and EuroLeague Women

With the NBA being seen as the top basketball league in the world, and one that foreign players strive to play in, basketball fans may think the WNBA to be the same way. Many current NBA stars have used international leagues as stepping stones in their journeys to make it to the NBA; foreign players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić (both 2x NBA MVPs) and even American born players, Brandon Jennings and LaMelo Ball (played internationally instead of D1 College basketball). 

In the case of the WNBA and EuroLeague Women, however, many players decide not to join the WNBA. Not only do players have the opportunity to make higher salaries in foreign leagues, but the level of play could be a lot closer than some might think according to WNBA players. 
EuroLeague Women 2021-22 - FIBA.basketball

Alina Iagupova is a guard for Fenerbahçe's women's team who has won 2 EuroLeague MVP awards in the last 3 seasons. Although she was selected late in the WNBA draft 10 years ago (third round), WNBA players Rebekah Gardner, Dana Evans, and Kayla McBride all have gone on record to say that Iagupova could play on any given WNBA roster right now and make an impact. 

Other notable players on Fenerbahçe's women's team are American-born, Breanna Stewart and Kayla McBride. Stewart is a 2x WNBA Champion, 4x All-Star, and 1x MVP, while McBride (2014, 3rd-Overall Draft Pick) is a 3x All-Star. 

Do you think there will come a time when the best female basketball players from the United States forgo the WNBA and play internationally, and if so, would this cause the WNBA to change their methods and start paying its players more?

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) - FIBA.basketball

Comments

  1. SantiMarch 3, 2023 at 1:05 PM

    I think that there could definitely come a time where the women's EuroLeague surpasses the wnba because I think it all depends on where the money is at. So if the women's teams in Europe have more merchandise and tickets sales they will have more money to pay their players which will make many female American basketball players consider to play oversees. This would definitely cause the Wnba to restructure the league and focus on players' salaries which will be beneficial for the athletes as salaries will be driven higher in Europe and the United States.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FenerbahçeMarch 5, 2023 at 10:29 AM

      I agree! I think the WNBA has a lot of restructuring to do as it is, so as EuroLeague Women increases in popularity, the WNBA will have to take note of how it does so.

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