WNBA investigates Aces after $100,000 sponsorship from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Aces continue to set new league standards.

On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced a $100,000 sponsorship deal for each Aces player for the next two seasons. The WNBA is investigating the deal, the league confirmed to the Sun-Times.

Before the 2023 season, the WNBA investigated the Aces for circumventing the league’s salary cap by paying players under the table. As a result of this investigation, the Aces’ 2025 first-round draft pick was waived.

In this case, however, the Aces appear to have done nothing wrong.

Aces coach Becky Hammon spoke to reporters after her team’s 89-82 win Saturday against the Sparks and clarified that the LVCVA contacted the players and their agents directly. She said the team did not organize the deal.

“I don’t understand the investigation,” two-time league MVP A’ja Wilson said after the win. “I looked at my phone and thought. ‘Oh wow. Just another day in the lives of the Aces.’ We can never go back to normal. There will always be something, and that’s okay.

“But when we talk about evolving the game, when we talk about taking the next step, it can’t always be: investigate, investigate, investigate. “It has to be like we’re trying to move the needle .”

Across the league, players are taking note of what the Aces are doing.

Sky center Elizabeth Williams said “the players are talking” and have discussed the sponsorship deal. She added that the Sky players had not spoken to management about the contract.

There seems to be a growing concern about what impact this will have on the WNBA’s free agency. The truth, however, is that the Aces had already established themselves as a top free agent destination before the endorsement deal.

“It’s just a matter of time before other teams figure out how to do it,” Williams told the Sun-Times before the Sky’s game against the Wings on Saturday. “It challenges the league because it creates the narrative that (the Aces) are investing in their players in a way that’s never been done before.” Teams are investing well in their franchises. You see the Seattle practice facility. As you can see, (Sky) raised money last year. “So it’s coming, but they’re just on a different level the way they do it.”

The LVCVA is a marketing organization dedicated to promoting Las Vegas. The decision to sponsor each Aces player individually is no different than other brand deals brokered by agents. The difference is that the company has chosen to invest in each player. It is also the first tourism agency to do this, but others could follow suit.

According to a league source, the LVCVA wanted to surprise players with the deal, which would pay them up to $100,000. Each player receives the same fixed amount for every game the Aces play, regardless of whether they participate in the game or not.

The only way for a player to not receive the full $100,000 is to waive him before the end of the season. The Aces have seven players on unprotected contracts, all of which will be protected midseason.

Harrison update

Striker Isabelle Harrison was again sidelined with a knee injury. The Sky has not announced a timetable for her return. She missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee.

“It won’t be too long, but we don’t have a timetable,” coach Teresa Weatherspoon said. “(Harrison) is making progress, and that’s the most important thing.”