Basketball enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming WNBA matchups featuring two of the game’s brightest stars: Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
These young talents are set to face each other three times during the regular season, with games scheduled for June 27, July 13, and August 1. The initial encounter on June 27 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas has already garnered significant attention, not only for the on-court rivalry but also for the steep ticket prices.
Lower bowl seats are reportedly priced as high as $1,205, indicating the high demand and excitement surrounding this event. As mentioned, those prices are for lower bowl seating but don’t expect other tickets in the venue to be cheaper compared to face value.
Bueckers’ Unrivaled deal highlights pay disparity
In a groundbreaking move, Paige Bueckers has signed a lucrative three-year contract with Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. This deal, reportedly worth over $330,000 for a 10-week season, surpasses the earnings of a four-year WNBA rookie contract, which starts at approximately $78,831 annually.
Unrivaled aims to offer the highest average salaries in professional women’s sports, with its inaugural season averaging $220,000 per player. The league’s financial model and Bueckers’ involvement bring attention to the ongoing pay disparities in women’s professional basketball.
Bueckers’ commitment to both the WNBA and Unrivaled underscores her dedication to advancing women’s basketball while also addressing the financial challenges faced by female athletes. Her dual participation in these leagues not only enhances her professional profile but also contributes to the broader conversation about equity and compensation in women’s sports.
As the season progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling matchups between Clark and Bueckers, both on the court and in the evolving landscape of women’s professional basketball.
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