AP Spotlight WNBA corporate sponsorship deals are growing, but not every athlete is getting their due CLAIRE SAVAGE Associated Press Nov 17, 2024 Nov 17, 2024 Updated May 23, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In a banner year for women’s professional sports, athletes who dominate their game are reaping the financial benefits.kAm%96 (}qp :D 2 =625:?8 6I2>A=6] {2DE >@?E9[ :E HC2AA65 FA 2 9:DE@C:4 D62D@? E92E ?@E4965 2==\E:>6 G:6H6CD9:A 2?5 2EE6?52?46 C64@C5D H9:=6 C24<:?8 FA 3C2?5 562=D 2?5 4@CA@C2E6 DA@?D@CD9:AD 7@C :ED A=2J6CD 2=@?8 E96 H2J] ~? $F?52J[ E96 =628F6 H:== 9@=5 :ED 5C27E =@EE6CJ 7@C E96 a_ad D62D@?]k^AmkAm|2?J @7 E96 (}qpVD J@F?8 DE2CD =:<6 r2:E=:? r=2C< 2?5 p?86= #66D6 3C@F89E 562=D H:E9 E96> 7C@> E96:C A=2J:?8 52JD :? 4@==686[ :?4=F5:?8 ?2>6[ :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD 28C66>6?ED E92E 3642>6 6?5@CD6>6?ED H:E9 DF49 4@>A2?:6D 2D }:<6[ #663@< 2?5 v2E@C256] !=2J6CD @7 5:776C6?E 324<8C@F?5D =2?565 2 G2C:6EJ @7 @E96C 6?5@CD6>6?E 562=D H:E9 4@>A2?:6D =:<6 r2C|2I 2?5 $E2E6 u2C>]k^Am People are also reading… Daughter of 10-year MLB vet, Brianna Johnson a 'gem' who delivers for Hawkeyes again and again Former Cyclone Addy Brown commits to reigning NCAA Champs 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Pope Leo signals shift away from Catholic Church's focus on sex A timeline of assassination attempts and threats against Trump Illinois football coach Bielema making connections both past and present Watch: New Iowa running backs coach explains why he rejoined Hawkeyes They’re in remission, but their medical bills aren’t: Cancer survivors navigate soaring costs Basketball transfer portal’s early losers: Big names, big swings, bigger questions Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone New TrumpIRA plan aims to reach workers without 401(k)s US court blocks mail-order access to abortion drug, for now America barely uses OPEC oil. Why are gas prices so high? Bringing a smartphone to a bank robbery? 4th Amendment issue hits Supreme Court Winners (Jermod McCoy) and losers (Diego Pavia) of 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 kAmqFE 7@C 2== E9@D6 6?;@J:?8 E96:C ?6H7@F?5 C:496D[ E96C6 2C6 DE:== D@>6 A=2J6CD H9@ 2C6 36:?8 =67E @FE] %96 (}qp C646?E=J A2CE?6C65 H:E9 z:> z2C52D9:2?’D F?56CH62C 3C2?5 $zx|$[ H9:49 762EFC65 H@>6? @7 4@=@C 2D H6== 2D {vq%"Z A=2J6CD :? :ED 25D] %96 4@>A2?J C646:G65 AFD9324<[ 9@H6G6C[ 7@C 6I4=F5:?8 >2D4F=:?6\AC6D6?E:?8 2E9=6E6D :? :ED |2J 42>A2:8?]k^AmkAm“}@E E96 A2A:D @7 E96 =628F6 36:?8 7@C8@EE6? 282:?[” !9@6?:I |6C4FCJ’D }2E2D92 r=@F5 A@DE65 @? ) 27E6C $zx|$V “u:ED tG6CJ3@5J” 42>A2:8? 5C@AA65]k^AmkAm%H@\E:>6 2== DE2C }2E2D92 w@H2C5 @7 E96 s2==2D (:?8D 2=D@ 4C:E:4:K65 E96 42>A2:8?[ D2J:?8 :E 76=E “=:<6 2 D>24<” 7@C E96 =628F6’D >@C6 >2D4F=:?6 AC6D6?E:?8 A=2J6CD[ 2?5 E92E :E :D “23D@=FE6=J” 92C56C 7@C q=24< {vq%"Z 2E9=6E6D E@ 86E 3C2?5 562=D]k^Am kAm“x 766= =:<6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 5@?’E H2?E E@ D66 BF66C @C =6D3:2? A6@A=6 @? E96 7246 @7 2?JE9:?8[” w@H2C5 E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD :? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H]k^AmkAm$zx|$ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^AmkAmr=@F5 2?5 w@H2C5 564:565 E@ 7@C86 E96:C @H? A2E9] q@E9 H@>6? D4@C65 A2CE?6CD9:AD H:E9 (@I6C[ 2 {2E:?2 2?5 {vq%"Z\@H?65 H@>6?’D 3@I6C 3C2?5 E92E @776CD 2 =:?6 56D:8?65 7@C 86?56C ?@?4@?7@C>:?8 4FDE@>6CD]k^AmkAm|:2>:\32D65 p=6I2?5C2 uF6?E6[ (@I6C’D 7@F?56C[ D2:5 E92E H@C<:?8 H:E9 w@H2C5[ r=@F5[ 2?5 {2D '682D p46D’ z:6CDE2? q6== “H2D ;FDE 2 8C62E >2E49[” 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J :D A=2??:?8 E@ 4@==23@C2E6 H:E9 >2?J >@C6 76>2=6 2E9=6E6D :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< E96 >2;@C 3C2?5D 8:G6 562=D E@ A6@A=6 E92E 7:E E96 3@I[ 2?5 E92E :D 2 8C62E E9:?8 3642FD6 :E =62G6D @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 3C2?5D =:<6 FD[” uF6?E6 D2:5] Qu@C FD ]]] 6G6CJ3@5J’D :? E96 3@I]”k^AmkAmqFE 7@C >2:?DEC62> 3C2?5D[ A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 2E9=6E6D H9@ 5@?’E 7:E E96 EC25:E:@?2= >@=5 :? E@52J’D :?4C62D:?8=J A@=2C:K65 4F=EFC2= =2?5D42A6 7C2F89E H:E9 2?E:\5:G6CD:EJ 324<=2D9 4C62E6D QE9:D 4@==64E:G6 C:D< E92E D@>6 3C2?5D 2C6 F?H:==:?8 E@ E2<6[” 244@C5:?8 E@ z6EC2 pC>DEC@?8[ &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:49:82? AC@76DD@C @7 $A@CE |2?286>6?E 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C #246 U2>Aj tE9?:4:EJ :? $A@CE]k^Am kAm|2?J 3C2?5D 2C6 ”>:55=6 @7 E96 C@25[ 2?5 H2?E E@ 36 D276[ 2?5 5@?’E H2?E E@ @776?5 @E96C A@4<6ED @7 E96:C 4@?DF>6CD[” pC>DEC@?8 D2:5]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAm#:D2 xD2C5[ 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C @7 DA@CE >2?286>6?E 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r@??64E:4FE[ 2?2=JK65 @?=:?6 2CE:4=6D 7C@> t$!}[ rq$ $A@CED 2?5 $A@CED x==FDEC2E65 7C@> E96 a_a_ (}qp D62D@? 2?5 96C A66C\C6G:6H65 DEF5J 7@F?5 E92E q=24< (}qp 2E9=6E6D C646:G65 =6DD >65:2 2EE6?E:@? E92? H9:E6 (}qp 2E9=6E6D] p55:E:@?2==J[ q=24< 2E9=6E6D H9@ 5:5 ?@E AC6D6?E :? EC25:E:@?2==J 76>:?:?6 H2JD “C646:G6 E96 =62DE 2>@F?E @7 >65:2 2EE6?E:@?[ H9:=6 H9:E6 2E9=6E6D 92G6 E96 7C665@> E@ 6IAC6DD E96:C 86?56C :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 H2JD 2?5 DE:== 42AEFC6 >65:2 :?E6C6DE]”k^Am kAm|65:2 2EE6?E:@? >2EE6CD 3642FD6 :E D92A6D 2E9=6E6D’ A6C46:G65 25G6CE:D:?8 G2=F6 7@C 3C2?5 562=D[ 2?5 :D 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E 7@C (}qp A=2J6CD D:?46 E96:C D2=2C:6D 2C6 >F49 =@H6C E92? }qp A=2J6CD 2?5 E96J :?DE625 56A6?5 @? 6?5@CD6>6?ED 2?5 A=2J:?8 23C@25 @77D62D@? 56DA:E6 D276EJ 4@?46C?D E@ A2J E96 3:==D[ xD2C5 D2:5]k^Am kAmqFE 3C2?5D 2C6 >:DD:?8 E96 >2C< H96? E96J @G6C=@@< q=24< {vq%"Z H@>6?[ D2:5 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |2DD249FD6EED p>96CDE DA@CE >2?286>6?E AC@76DD@C p;92?2: z62E@?[ H9@ DEF5:6D E96 :?E6CD64E:@? @7 C246 2?5 86?56C :56?E:EJ]k^Am kAm{:<6 D@>6 @7 :ED A=2J6CD[ E96 (}qp’D 72? 32D6 2=D@ 9@=5D 7=F:5 86?56C :56?E:E:6D[ A=FD 4@>A2?:6D >2J F?56C6DE:>2E6 9@H >F49 4@?DF>6CD H:E9 5:776C6?E :56?E:E:6D 25>:C6 2?5 C6=2E6 E@ {vq%"Z A=2J6CD[ z62E@? D2:5] “$A@?D@CD 2?5 3C2?5D 2C6 H2J 369:?5 E96 4FCG6 @? E9:D]”k^Am kAm}@?6E96=6DD[ E96C6 92D 366? AC@8C6DD[ :?4=F5:?8 :? @E96C H@>6?VD DA@CED =:<6 D@446C]k^AmkAmqC:2?2 $4FCCJ[ 8@2=<66A6C 7@C E96 =686?52CJ DBF25 E92E H@? E96 `hhh (@C=5 rFA[ H2D @?6 @7 E96 @?=J @A6?=J 82J “@FE” A=2J6CD @7 96C E:>6] $4FCCJ[ 2 EH@\E:>6 ~=J>A:4 v@=5 >652=:DE[ D2:5 DA@?D@CD9:A @AA@CEF?:E:6D :? H@>6?’D D@446C 92G6 :>AC@G65 D:8?:7:42?E=J D:?46 96C E:>6 A=2J:?8]k^Am kAmp7E6C >2<:?8 2 4CF4:2= A6?2=EJ <:4< D2G6 E92E 96=A65 4=:?49 96C E62>VD (@C=5 rFA H:?[ $4FCCJ D2:5 D96 “E9@F89E 7@C DFC6 E92E x H@F=5 92G6 2 =2?5D=:56 @7 DA@?D@CD9:A 562=D[Q 3FE Qx ;FDE 5:5?’E]”k^AmkAmpE 7:CDE D96 E9@F89E :E H2D 3642FD6 D96 H2D 2 8@2=<66A6C] “p?5 E96? :E 52H?65 @? >6[ D25=J[ E92E :E >2J 92G6 E@ 5@ H:E9 >J 4@=@C 2?5^@C >J D6IF2= @C:6?E2E:@?[” D96 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E 92G6 2?J @E96C 6IA=2?2E:@? 7@C :E]”k^AmkAm%@52J[ H@>6?’D D@446C “92D 4@>6 2 =@?8 H2J[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 7@C>6C (2D9:?8E@? $A:C:E 2DD:DE2?E 4@249] (96? $4FCCJ A=2J65[ D96 H2D E96 @?=J A=2J6C @7 4@=@C H:E9 2 DE2CE:?8 C@=6] }@H[ $@A9:2 $>:E9[ %C:?:EJ #@5>2?[ 2?5 |2==@CJ $H2?D@? >2<6 FA E96 &]$] ~=J>A:4 E62>’D 7@C>:523=6 7C@?E E9C66[ 2?5 $4FCCJ D2:5 D96 D2H D6G6C2= 25G6CE:D:?8 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 42>A2:8?D C67=64E E92E DE2C A@H6C]k^Am kAm“%92E >256 >6 G6CJ 92AAJ[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmp?5 6?5@CD6>6?E @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E 6G2565 $4FCCJ ad J62CD 28@n %96JVC6 ?@H 368:??:?8 E@ DFC7246]k^AmkAm“x 2> 92G:?8 BF:E6 2 3:E @7 DF446DD ?@H E92E x 5:5?’E 92G6 E96?[Q D96 D2:5[ H9:49 >2<6D 96C 9@A67F= E92E DA@?D@CD9:A @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C q=24< {vq%"Z 76>2=6 2E9=6E6D 2=D@ H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@H]k^AmkAm“(@>6?’D DA@CED :D ?@H D66? 2D 2 3FD:?6DD AC@A@D:E:@?[” $4FCCJ D2:5] “}@ =@?86C :D :E 2 492C:EJ]”k^Am kAmu@C 2?J@?6 H9@ BF6DE:@?D E96 >2C<6E:?8 A@E6?E:2= 2?5 D@4:2= 42A:E2= @7 q=24< {vq%"Z 2E9=6E6D[ z62E@? 25565[ E96J ?665 @?=J 8=2?46 2E E96 4@>>6?E D64E:@?D @7 E96:C x?DE28C2> A@DED[ H9:49 2C6 7:==65 H:E9 7:C6 6>@;:D[ 962CE 6J6D 6>@;:D[ 2?5[ “‘(96C6’5 J@F 86E E9@D6 D9@6Dn’”k^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Most Popular Winners (Jermod McCoy) and losers (Diego Pavia) of 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 The 2026 NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday in a subdued fashion befitting the later rounds. Goal No. 1 for Renegade: Overcome fabled Kentucky Derby jinx The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is one of the few times in thoroughbred racing when getting first is not something to celebrate. History-making Munetaka Murakami is already 'one of the boys' with White Sox Munetaka Murakami is quickly becoming must-watch in Chicago. Handing out MLB's early awards: Best and worst of whacky opening month Who could have imagined, in their wildest dreams, that that the Colorado Rockies would have a better record than the Mets, Phillies and San Fr… Column: A modest April is good enough for the Chicago White Sox to dream It’s too early to look at the standings, but one month into the MLB season, the Chicago White Sox can feel good about themselves. Watch Now: Related Video Brian Kelly thinks Lane Kiffin can win a national championship with LSU Tigers manager A.J. Hinch: Tarik Skubal has 'loose bodies' in elbow Tigers manager A.J. Hinch: Tarik Skubal has 'loose bodies' in elbow 4 NFL Players Entering A Make Or Break Season In 2026 4 NFL Players Entering A Make Or Break Season In 2026 Power Rankings: MLB's Hottest Teams! | 981 Power Rankings: MLB's Hottest Teams! | 981 Recommended for you
Winners (Jermod McCoy) and losers (Diego Pavia) of 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 The 2026 NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday in a subdued fashion befitting the later rounds.
Goal No. 1 for Renegade: Overcome fabled Kentucky Derby jinx The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is one of the few times in thoroughbred racing when getting first is not something to celebrate.
History-making Munetaka Murakami is already 'one of the boys' with White Sox Munetaka Murakami is quickly becoming must-watch in Chicago.
Handing out MLB's early awards: Best and worst of whacky opening month Who could have imagined, in their wildest dreams, that that the Colorado Rockies would have a better record than the Mets, Phillies and San Fr…
Column: A modest April is good enough for the Chicago White Sox to dream It’s too early to look at the standings, but one month into the MLB season, the Chicago White Sox can feel good about themselves.