A’ja Wilson Questions WNBA’s Investigation of Aces’ $100,000 Sponsorships | Las Vegas Aces | NBA

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A’ja Wilson Questions WNBA’s Investigation of Aces’ $100,000 Sponsorships

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority offered each Aces player a $100,000 sponsorship that doesn’t violate salary cap rules.

Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson walks off the court during a game in 2023. / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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The WNBA is looking further into the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s $100,000 sponsorship offered to all 12 Las Vegas Aces players earlier this week.

ESPN reported Saturday that the WNBA plans to investigate the deal. The contract includes an agreement that players wear Las Vegas-centric gear and “reach mutually agreeable opportunities for appearances on Las Vegas’ behalf,” per the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The sponsorship does not violate the WNBA’s salary cap because the LVCVA didn’t involve the club in the deal and instead worked with each individual player and agent. But the league is set to determine whether the sponsorship violates the spirit of the salary cap rules.

Aces star A’ja Wilson heard about the investigation shortly after Las Vegas wrapped up an 89–82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.

finding out ya team is under investigation right after a game is OD like huhhhhhh what happened to growing the game ?¿?¿

— A’ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) May 18, 2024

“When we’re talking about growing the game, when we’re talking about taking that next step, it can’t always be, ‘investigate, investigate, investigate,'” Wilson said after the game. “We’re trying to move the needle. We’re trying to make things better for franchises, for players, for teams.”

Per Spotrac, six of the 12 Aces—Megan Gustafson, Emma Cannon, Sydney Colson, Kierstan Bell, Dyaisha Fair and Kate Martin—earn less than $100,000. Wilson and Kelsey Plum are the two highest-paid players on the team, making $200,000 each this season.