NEW YORK– Kyrie Irving is helping to make certain WNBA players can sit out the season and not tension about a paycheck.
The Brooklyn Nets star is devoting $1.5 million to supplement the income of players who choose not to play this season, whether because of coronavirus issues or social justice factors.
The funds will come from the KAI Empowerment Initiative that Irving released Monday. It will also offer gamers with a monetary literacy program created by UBS.
Irving said that with the assistance of WNBA players Natasha Cloud– who picked to remain– and Jewell Loyd, he got in touch with several WNBA players who discussed with him the obstacles they dealt with in choosing whether to play. The season began Saturday and will be played entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
1 RelatedHe chose to help with the monetary burden in a league where the leading yearly wage is a bit more than $200,000.
“Whether a person decided to combat for social justice, play basketball, concentrate on psychological or physical health, or simply get in touch with their households, this effort can hopefully support their priorities and decisions,” Irving said in a statement.
Gamers such as Cloud and Atlantas Renee Montgomery decided against betting social reform factors. Its uncertain the number of gamers will qualify for Irvings program.
To be eligible, gamers must provide insight into the scenarios surrounding their decision and not be receiving salary support from any other entity. An opt-out for medical factors need to be connected to the coronavirus pandemic.
Players can get information at the KAI Empowerment Initiative website. They require to use by Aug. 11, and recipients will be informed on Aug. 24.
Irving is not with the Nets for the reboot of the NBA season as he recovers from shoulder surgical treatment. He has been singing about social justice problems and just recently produced a television special calling for action in the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black lifesaver who was shot eight times on March 13 in Louisville, Kentucky, by plainclothes officers serving a narcotics search warrant without knocking at her apartment or condo. No drugs were discovered.
WNBA gamers wore Taylors name on their jerseys during opening weekend.
Irving is not with the Nets for the restart of the NBA season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. He has actually been vocal about social justice issues and recently produced a TV special calling for action in the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical professional who was shot 8 times on March 13 in Louisville, Kentucky, by plainclothes officers serving a narcotics search warrant without knocking at her apartment. No drugs were discovered.
