The WNBA is investigating the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces after every player on the roster received a $100,000 sponsorship deal.
On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it would sponsor every player on a two-year deal that nets the player $100,000. The organization posted a video on social media of leadership telling the players as well.
In the video, tourism authority president and CEO Steve Hill told the players “the offer’s really simple: we want you to just play, we want you to keep repping Las Vegas, and if you get a three-peat, that’d be icing on the cake.’
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported every player signed a contract that will have them “reach mutually agreeable opportunities for appearances on Las Vegas’ behalf,” and they will get gear to wear to promote the city.
However, each player signed a contract to “reach mutually agreeable opportunities for appearances on Las Vegas’ behalf.” The LVCVA will also provide players with Las Vegas-centric gear that they will be expected to wear to promote the city.
The deals were brokered directly with each player’s agents, the authority said, and not through the team so it would avoid breaking the WNBA’s salary cap rules. The team had no knowledge of the deal, according to the authority. However, a WNBA spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports the league has opened an investigation into the matter.
Why is WNBA investigating Las Vegas Aces?
The league did not specify why it…
