It has been over a month since WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed from Russia in early December. However, her detention in Russia has triggered a massive discussion about the risk WNBA players take by playing in foreign leagues. The women’s league in America has taken some critical steps to prevent players from traveling to foreign countries just to earn more money. However, the league still lacks the support mechanisms these players need to sustain themselves and their families. Recently, Charles Barkley and WNBA legend Candace Parker displayed adamant spirits during their discussions about stopping another Brittney Griner situation.

Over the last decade, more and more WNBA stars, including Candace Parker, have resorted to playing in foreign leagues during the WNBA off-season in order to earn more money than they do at home. However, the Brittney Griner saga has raised some serious concerns about their safety and security. Now, Griner’s experience in Russia recently prompted NBA legend Charles Barkley to make an interesting suggestion in order to protect the players and provide them with an alternate money-making solution.

Barkley suggests a way to stop another Brittney Griner saga

In a recent appearance on The Steam Room Podcast, two-time WNBA champ Candace Parker joined co-hosts, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson. During the conversations, Barkley pointed out that the release of Brittney Griner was great news for the nation’s basketball fraternity, including the WNBA and the NBA. Moreover, the 11-time All-Star asked Parker if endorsement deals off the court could be a way to stop WNBA stars from looking for more money in foreign leagues. Charles Barkley asked Parker, “I don’t know how many women who have endorsement deals in the WNBA. Do you think this could be the turning point for the WNBA?”

The 1993 MVP added, ” And instead of all these ladies having to go to these crazy countries to supplement their income, some of these American companies could get off their a**es and say you know what, let’s make sure these women don’t have to go to these crap countries and play in crazy conditions and have to look over their shoulders all the time.”

In response, Parker pointed out that conversations about more endorsement deals around the WNBA have been happening. However, the 2016 Finals MVP suggested that the actions about the conversations were yet to come into existence.

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Moreover, Parker admitted that there has been ‘the transformation and the revolution’ in women’s sports in terms of investments and visibility of the sport. However, the WNBA legend also made a shocking revelation about overseas earnings and the steps the league is taking to stop the players from playing in foreign leagues.

Parker reveals financial earnings of top WNBA stars overseas

While talking about the financial benefits of playing overseas, Parker admitted that she was able to support her kids financially as a result of playing in foreign leagues for nine years in countries like Russia, China, and Turkey. The seven-time All-Star added, “Some of the top players made ten, you know, ten times, fifteen times what they made in the WNBA overseas in six months.”

Parker suggested that the WNBA ended up becoming her summer job due to the amount of money she was making in foreign leagues. Moreover, the Chicago Sky star suggested that the WNBA had mandated players to show up on the first day of the training camp. She revealed if the WNBA players failed to make it to the camps on time, they could end up facing suspension for the whole season.

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Thus, Parker felt that there would be an increased need for endorsement deals next season and urged the nation’s companies to step up. At the same time, Candace Parker stated that many WNBA stars would also be left with a critical decision of choosing between the WNBA or foreign leagues.