Seattle Storm star quits WNBA after controversial Caitlin Clark remarks and bust-up with commissioner over salary claims
The Seattle Storm player has not retired, however, and will continue to play basketball
Seattle Storm star quits WNBA after controversial Caitlin Clark remarks and bust-up with commissioner over salary claims
A WNBA star has left the professional league after her comments about rookie phenom Caitlin Clark.
Former Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams has decided to play overseas in Europe.
The Storm were eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
Williams was only under contract through this year and chose to leave the league.
The 28-year-old’s decision comes with plenty of controversy.
Last month, Williams turned heads after refuting a statement made by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The head of the league claimed that players can earn up to $700,000.
Williams wasn’t afraid to call out Engelbert’s declaration.
“Our commissioner talked about us being able to make $700,000,” she told reporters during her end-of-season exit interview.
” That’s actually not true at all. There’s not one player who makes that.”
“We were promised team marketing agreements and league marketing agreements, but they’ve fallen quite short.
“So it’s still not enough for us international players to want to stay here. And that’s a choice of the players.
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“If I make a choice to make more money, whatever, and then teams are mad that I don’t come back, but that’s how it is.”
The topic caused a Caitlin Clark fan to claim that the rookie superstar has earned more than $700,000 in her first season.
Williams responded to the claim on TikTok, saying that she was talking about WNBA salaries exclusively which don’t include any possible endorsement deals.
“Clark makes $70,000 in the WNBA,” Williams said. “So I know all these Caitlin Clark fans, whatever, like ‘Caitlin Clark makes $700,000,’ That’s off of endorsements.”
It was later revealed that Williams was on a plane to Turkey to sign with the Istanbul-based squad Fenerbahçe S.K. when she filmed her TikTok response.
Williams has dabbled with playing internationally in the past.
She had stints in Italy, Hungary, and France.
During the 2024 season, Williams played in just 10 WNBA games.
The 2018 first-round pick could again return to the professional league for the second half of next season.
However, Williams hinted in a TikTok video that she could permanently play overseas.
