France Basketball Star Gabby Williams Made Fans Wonder Why She Isn't in WNBA
Many basketball fans watching Gabby Williams shine for France in a narrow gold medal loss to Team USA in the Olympics probably had the same question. Why isn't she in the WNBA?
The Olympics is making it plenty clear there needs to be a solution that makes it easier for players like Gabby Williams and Emma Meesseman to play in the WNBA
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 11, 2024
Well, this is something the former UConn star has previously addressed. Williams did play in the W for the Seattle Storm as recently as 2023 but said the current pay in the league is not enough to make things as easy as they should seem when speaking with The Next Hoops last Summer.
“I would love to be in the WNBA because it’s the best league in the world for women’s basketball, the most competitive, the highest skill level, and it’s not even close," Williams told The Next. She went on to say, "Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the most. So I am happy to have other options to provide for me and my family. "
Seeing a lot of Gabby Williams should be in the W tweets. She played with Seattle last year and I had an opportunity to interview her regarding the new proration rules put in place by the WNBA. Here’s what she shared with me. pic.twitter.com/6aaNCkRWoY
— Rob from Chester, Pa (@knoxrob1) August 11, 2024
Williams has been playing overseas for Fenerbahce in Istanbul and obviously put a lot of focus into competing in the Olympics for France, as was evidenced by her performance in Paris. She also had said it would be difficult for her to return to the league this season due to prioritization rules around her other basketball commitments.
However, she has been deemed eligible, so Gabby should have plenty of WNBA suitors. She did come within a few inches of sending the gold medal game against Team USA to overtime after all, that after standing out during the entire run for France.
Hopefully the league's new media rights deal and new domestic options like Unrivaled can allow players like Williams to play wherever they wish, without finances or other factors complicating matters.
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!