Why WNBA Stars Are Playing Overseas Just to Make a Living
Superstar Seimone Augustus explains why she plays professionally in both Russia and America.
Because the maximum WNBA salary is about $110,000 USD a year, many hoopers are opting to spend their offseason playing professionally overseas to earn a proper living (by the American pro-athlete standards of course). Countries like Russia, with their billionaire owners, are paying women ballers more than three times that amount to build a winning franchise in a sport that is consistently growing in popularity. And while it puts more money in their pocket, the year-round season does take its toll on their bodies in a profession that already has an extremely limited shelf life. With this world in mind, The Undefeated caught up with 3x-WNBA champ Seimone Augustus to talk about the pay discrepancy, and the transition from her season in Russia to her WNBA season.
