NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving is making sure that WNBA players can stay out of season and not be stressed over a salary.
Brooklyn star Nets is pledging $ 1.5 million to supplement the revenue of players who choose not to play this season, both for coronavirus and social justice reasons.
The funds will come from the KAI empowerment initiative launched by Irving on Monday. It will also provide players with a financial literacy program created by UBS.
Irving said that with the help of WNBA players Natasha Cloud – who chose to sit outside – and Jewell Loyd, he connected to several WNBA players who discussed with him the challenges they faced in deciding whether to play. The season started on Saturday and will take place entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
He has decided to help with the financial burden in a league where the highest annual salary is just over $ 200,000.
“Whether a person has decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health or simply connect with their families, this initiative will hopefully support their priorities and decisions,” said Irving in a Note.
Players such as Cloud and Renee Montgomery of Atlanta have decided not to play for social reform reasons, although it is unclear how many will qualify for the Irving program.
To be eligible, players must provide detailed information on the circumstances surrounding their decision and not receive wage support from any other entity. An opt-out for medical reasons must be linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Players can get information on the KAI Empowerment Initiative website. They must submit an application by August 11 and recipients will receive a notification on August 24.
Irving is not with the nets to restart the NBA season while recovering from shoulder surgery. It was openly voiced on social justice issues and recently produced a television special calling for action in the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black emergency medical technician who was shot eight times on March 13 in Louisville, Kentucky, plainclothes officers need a drug search warrant without knocking on his apartment. No drugs found.
WNBA players wore the Taylor name on their shirts during the opening weekend.
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