Diana Taurasi to take 2015 season off

[BC867]

Diana Taurasi, the greatest star among stars on the Phoenix Mercury, is taking the 2015 NBA season off to rest from playing year-round basketball. She will be back for the 2016 season.

I believe that, with Brittney Griner having reached superstar status and anchoring a very good roster, it will be a fun and successful season for the Mercury and their fans.

And I look forward to a rested Diana Taurasi returning to an even better Mercury team for the 2016 season.

http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/Taurasi_letter_150203.html

 

[Dback Jon]

That sucks.

 

[BC867]

That sucks.

I choose half full over half empty, Jon.

And when DT returns for the 2016 season . . . 95% full. And well rested.

 

[jw7]

Taurasi makes just $107,000 in the U.S., but makes nearly 15 times that playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg, with a salary of nearly $1.5 million in Russia.

Linky

Can't say I blame her.

 

[Mainstreet]

I had no idea women's basketball overseas was that big. It makes the WNBA look small time in that the Mercury cannot offer the same salary to keep her home.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Linky

Can't say I blame her.

Here is a more detailed article about life in Russia for these athletes...

Boivin: 1.5 million explanations for Taurasi's decision

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-russia-contract-leave-wnba-mercury/22819813/

An article several years ago by ESPN's Jim Caple shared this paragraph about the experience of Taurasi and Seattle's Sue Bird living in Russia:

"From December to mid-May, the two former UConn teammates were back together, living in a rent-free, six-bedroom villa only slight smaller than the Kremlin, so lavish it included an indoor swimming pool and a sauna. They had a part-time cook. They had an interpreter. They had personal drivers. They received three round-trip, business-class flights between the United States and Moscow during the season. They regularly flew business class or charter for road games."

 

[Gee!]

This isn't meant to be a joke. But I'm actually surprised Russia is paying so much for lesbians to play a game when their president is so anti gay.

 

[BC867]

This isn't meant to be a joke. But I'm actually surprised Russia is paying so much for lesbians to play a game when their president is so anti gay.

I don't buy your premise that WNBA = "lesbians".

But even if some WNBA players are, since when has the "good ol' boy network" not made money by using minorities?

 

[MigratingOsprey]

The Russians aren't making money, at least not from the product ..... It's a competitive situation amongst their network...... Kind of like fantasy women's basketball with a much larger buy in and I'm sure some interesting side wagers