Gabby Williams is not the only WNBA player who has to play overseas to make ends meet financially. However, she is one of the few primarily international players who also plays in the United States.
It gives her a unique perspective on the American league and how it compensates its athletes.
Williams recently signed a contract with Fenerbahçe S.K. of the Turkish Super League. The back-to-back FIBA EuroLeague Women champions are based out of Istanbul and will hope to three-peat during the 2024-25 season, which continues through at least June 1, 2025 depending on playoffs.
As a result of Fenerbahçe’s schedule, Williams will miss the start of the next WNBA season. She did the same thing last year and did not join the Seattle Storm until after the Olympic break in August.
The 28-year-old forward was drafted No. 4 overall by Chicago Sky in 2018 out of UConn. However, the majority of her professional basketball career has been played in Italy, Spain, Hungary, her home country of France and now Turkey.
Gabby Williams does not make the WNBA a priority.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert claimed in 2022 that top WNBA players can make up to $700,000 but that is entirely untrue. Some athletes, like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese and Diana Taurasi, are able to make more money than end-of-bench players through endorsement deals— not their salaries.
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young is the highest-paid player in the league at $252,450 per year.
Williams recently torched Engelbert and the WNBA for its poor play. She explained in her end-of-season press conference that players (like her) will continue to leave and play in other countries until they get paid more in the United States.
Gabby Williams speaks about how the WNBA can do better when it comes to international players 🗣️
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 26, 2024
"Our commissioner talked about us being able to, you know, make $700,000. That's actually not true at all. There's not one player who makes that." pic.twitter.com/RPh7IzN4lh
Not long thereafter, Williams hopped on a plane and flew to Turkey to join Fenerbahçe for its SuperCup competition. The Olympic silver medalist will be overseas through May.
Should Fenerbahçe’s season end in time for Gabby Williams to make it back for the WNBA, she will see what opportunities are available. In the meantime, the former top-five pick is off to play in another country that will pay her more money.