WNBA Fines Tsais $500,000 For NY Liberty Charter Flights

[Rich Rane]

The Napa trip, over Labor Day weekend, violated the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a benefit that vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players. So, too, did the charter flights Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai bought and provided to their team repeatedly throughout the second half of the WNBA season, a competitive advantage for New York that led to a league-record $500,000 fine of the team—originally floated by the league at $1 million, reduced on an appeal, itself an irregular process—and the removal of Liberty executive Oliver Weisberg from the league’s executive committee, sources told Sports Illustrated. The league confirmed these details, as well.

After someone alerted the WNBA to the Liberty’s violations, possible remedies floated by the league’s general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, ranged from losing “every draft pick you have ever seen” to suspending ownership, even “grounds for termination of the franchise,” according to a Sept. 21, 2021, communication between the league and the Liberty reviewed by SI.

On Sept. 13, according to a source familiar with the call, the WNBA Board of Governors considered an unofficial proposal from the Liberty to make charter flights the default travel option for WNBA teams—the Liberty said they’d found a way to get it comped for everyone in the league for three years—but it lacked majority support. Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there’d be no going back, and others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead.

https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/03/01/charter-flights-violation-new-york-liberty-joe-tsai-daily-cover

[Prokorov]

The Napa trip, over Labor Day weekend, violated the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a benefit that vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players. So, too, did the charter flights Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai bought and provided to their team repeatedly throughout the second half of the WNBA season, a competitive advantage for New York that led to a league-record $500,000 fine of the team—originally floated by the league at $1 million, reduced on an appeal, itself an irregular process—and the removal of Liberty executive Oliver Weisberg from the league’s executive committee, sources told Sports Illustrated. The league confirmed these details, as well.

After someone alerted the WNBA to the Liberty’s violations, possible remedies floated by the league’s general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, ranged from losing “every draft pick you have ever seen” to suspending ownership, even “grounds for termination of the franchise,” according to a Sept. 21, 2021, communication between the league and the Liberty reviewed by SI.

On Sept. 13, according to a source familiar with the call, the WNBA Board of Governors considered an unofficial proposal from the Liberty to make charter flights the default travel option for WNBA teams—the Liberty said they’d found a way to get it comped for everyone in the league for three years—but it lacked majority support. Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there’d be no going back, and others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead.

https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/03/01/charter-flights-violation-new-york-liberty-joe-tsai-daily-cover

What complete nonsense the NBA should be completely ashamed.

Basically, Tsai's commit to providing a plan for charter flights for all teams, the league rejects it, and then fines them for giving their women the best accomodations. For women who are drastically underpaid and the league does nothing to help further promote.

they got paid nothing during the pandemic shortened season that was cancelled (Kyrie footed the bill to pay their remaining salaries). you see commercials for every TV show under the sun during a national game, but you see ZERO promotion of the WNBA during naitonal NBA games.

its gross

NBA teams can pay for houses and cars for NBA players mistresses and stuff but women get fined if they arent flying coach with pedestrians between the front and tail end of a 2-city back to back?

F you NBA, WNBA. treat these women right or GTFO of the way and let someone else do it

[MrDollarBills]

The Napa trip, over Labor Day weekend, violated the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a benefit that vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players. So, too, did the charter flights Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai bought and provided to their team repeatedly throughout the second half of the WNBA season, a competitive advantage for New York that led to a league-record $500,000 fine of the team—originally floated by the league at $1 million, reduced on an appeal, itself an irregular process—and the removal of Liberty executive Oliver Weisberg from the league’s executive committee, sources told Sports Illustrated. The league confirmed these details, as well.

After someone alerted the WNBA to the Liberty’s violations, possible remedies floated by the league’s general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, ranged from losing “every draft pick you have ever seen” to suspending ownership, even “grounds for termination of the franchise,” according to a Sept. 21, 2021, communication between the league and the Liberty reviewed by SI.

On Sept. 13, according to a source familiar with the call, the WNBA Board of Governors considered an unofficial proposal from the Liberty to make charter flights the default travel option for WNBA teams—the Liberty said they’d found a way to get it comped for everyone in the league for three years—but it lacked majority support. Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there’d be no going back, and others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead.

https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/03/01/charter-flights-violation-new-york-liberty-joe-tsai-daily-cover

This is absolutely disgusting.

So Joe and Clara want to treat their players with the same dignity and class of service that the men get and the league's lawyer wants to basically go scorched earth? Grounds of termination for a NEW YORK franchise? Bruh...

Instead of trying to treat WNBA players like second class citizens, why not actually invest in your teams like the Tsai family is doing? It's not their fault that the rest of these WNBA owners are broke and they're not.

[MrDollarBills]

The Napa trip, over Labor Day weekend, violated the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a benefit that vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players. So, too, did the charter flights Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai bought and provided to their team repeatedly throughout the second half of the WNBA season, a competitive advantage for New York that led to a league-record $500,000 fine of the team—originally floated by the league at $1 million, reduced on an appeal, itself an irregular process—and the removal of Liberty executive Oliver Weisberg from the league’s executive committee, sources told Sports Illustrated. The league confirmed these details, as well.

After someone alerted the WNBA to the Liberty’s violations, possible remedies floated by the league’s general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, ranged from losing “every draft pick you have ever seen” to suspending ownership, even “grounds for termination of the franchise,” according to a Sept. 21, 2021, communication between the league and the Liberty reviewed by SI.

On Sept. 13, according to a source familiar with the call, the WNBA Board of Governors considered an unofficial proposal from the Liberty to make charter flights the default travel option for WNBA teams—the Liberty said they’d found a way to get it comped for everyone in the league for three years—but it lacked majority support. Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there’d be no going back, and others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead.

https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/03/01/charter-flights-violation-new-york-liberty-joe-tsai-daily-cover

What complete nonsense the NBA should be completely ashamed.

Basically, Tsai's commit to providing a plan for charter flights for all teams, the league rejects it, and then fines them for giving their women the best accomodations. For women who are drastically underpaid and the league does nothing to help further promote.

they got paid nothing during the pandemic shortened season that was cancelled (Kyrie footed the bill to pay their remaining salaries). you see commercials for every TV show under the sun during a national game, but you see ZERO promotion of the WNBA during naitonal NBA games.

its gross

NBA teams can pay for houses and cars for NBA players mistresses and stuff but women get fined if they arent flying coach with pedestrians between the front and tail end of a 2-city back to back?

F you NBA, WNBA. treat these women right or GTFO of the way and let someone else do it

Shout out to Kyrie who did more for WNBA players in 2020 than the league itself.

[ecuhus1981]

I really couldn't believe I had read the headline properly when I first heard about it.

I'm proud of the Tsais, they broke an unjust rule in the interest of treating their lady players with the same dignity as their gentlemen players. It's not about lavishly spending, it's about time management. Chartered flights are way quicker for players on tight schedules.

[ecuhus1981]

MLS does this stuff too, they want to run a professional league but treat travel like it's the 1940's. It's tacky, a security risk and a waste of time to have high profile athletes on commercial flights.

[ecuhus1981]

I'm still fuming about the hypocrisy, so yeah, I'm going back to back to back with posts!

Silver turns a blind eye to the Clippers paying for houses (plural) for Kawhi's relatives. Ballmer doesn't get as much as a slap on the wrist, all swept under the rug despite the clear cap circumvention from impermissible benefits.

Yet, just because a few of the WNBA owners are cheapskates who don't provide 21st century accommodations for their pro athletes, they make an example of the foreign-born Brown skinned owners for not knowing their place.

You don't have to agree with me, IMO the fact that they are not white Americans makes them easier targets for the harshest punishment the league has served since Malice in the Palace. Joe and Clara should appeal this decision to a higher governing body.

[MrDollarBills]

I'm still fuming about the hypocrisy, so yeah, I'm going back to back to back with posts!

Silver turns a blind eye to the Clippers paying for houses (plural) for Kawhi's relatives. Ballmer doesn't get as much as a slap on the wrist, all swept under the rug despite the clear cap circumvention from impermissible benefits.

Yet, just because a few of the WNBA owners are cheapskates who don't provide 21st century accommodations for their pro athletes, they make an example of the foreign-born Brown skinned owners for not knowing their place.

You don't have to agree with me, IMO the fact that they are not white Americans makes them easier targets for the harshest punishment the league has served since Malice in the Palace. Joe and Clara should appeal this decision to a higher governing body.

They should refuse to pay. Half a million dollars because they want to treat women basketball players as well as the men?

AND Joe and Clara offered to have this happen for the entire league and these scumbags refused because it would lead to the players wanting better treatment?

The Tsai family wants the WNBA to grow big time, which is why they are investing heavily into the Liberty to make them a must watch team on television (and they will be, their roster is LOADED). It seems to me that the rest of the league isn't interested in growing the product like they are.

[Prokorov]

I'm still fuming about the hypocrisy, so yeah, I'm going back to back to back with posts!

Silver turns a blind eye to the Clippers paying for houses (plural) for Kawhi's relatives. Ballmer doesn't get as much as a slap on the wrist, all swept under the rug despite the clear cap circumvention from impermissible benefits.

Yet, just because a few of the WNBA owners are cheapskates who don't provide 21st century accommodations for their pro athletes, they make an example of the foreign-born Brown skinned owners for not knowing their place.

You don't have to agree with me, IMO the fact that they are not white Americans makes them easier targets for the harshest punishment the league has served since Malice in the Palace. Joe and Clara should appeal this decision to a higher governing body.

They should refuse to pay. Half a million dollars because they want to treat women basketball players as well as the men?

AND Joe and Clara offered to have this happen for the entire league and these scumbags refused because it would lead to the players wanting better treatment?

The Tsai family wants the WNBA to grow big time, which is why they are investing heavily into the Liberty to make them a must watch team on television (and they will be, their roster is LOADED). It seems to me that the rest of the league isn't interested in growing the product like they are.

old white men owning wnba franchises is just bad... they will never get what they deserve that way.

[MrDollarBills]

I'm still fuming about the hypocrisy, so yeah, I'm going back to back to back with posts!

Silver turns a blind eye to the Clippers paying for houses (plural) for Kawhi's relatives. Ballmer doesn't get as much as a slap on the wrist, all swept under the rug despite the clear cap circumvention from impermissible benefits.

Yet, just because a few of the WNBA owners are cheapskates who don't provide 21st century accommodations for their pro athletes, they make an example of the foreign-born Brown skinned owners for not knowing their place.

You don't have to agree with me, IMO the fact that they are not white Americans makes them easier targets for the harshest punishment the league has served since Malice in the Palace. Joe and Clara should appeal this decision to a higher governing body.

They should refuse to pay. Half a million dollars because they want to treat women basketball players as well as the men?

AND Joe and Clara offered to have this happen for the entire league and these scumbags refused because it would lead to the players wanting better treatment?

The Tsai family wants the WNBA to grow big time, which is why they are investing heavily into the Liberty to make them a must watch team on television (and they will be, their roster is LOADED). It seems to me that the rest of the league isn't interested in growing the product like they are.

old white men owning wnba franchises is just bad... they will never get what they deserve that way.

Yeah, in a perfect world the league's ownership make up would reflect the actual worker base: women and minorities.

I can only guess the kind of person that would say "Ah we can't start giving these women charter flights, they might want to start to asking for more things".