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NEW YORK — The WNBA has several newcomers on its player marketing contract roster this season.
The league’s past two Rookie of the Year winners, Aliyah Boston (Indiana) and Ryne Howard (Atlanta), are two of six players selected to join the program this offseason. They will be joined by Washington’s Shakira Austin, Connecticut’s Breonna Jones, Seattle’s Jewell Lloyd and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale.
“I think this is a great turning point,” Austin said while attending a photo shoot in New York. “It’s great that they can recognize these young players who continue to do what they do and get the respect that they deserve. You know, now you can build your legacy and continue to put your face out there. It’s a great feeling to be one of the faces of the league and to be able to stay here, it’s a win-win for me.”
Ogunbouyere was the only returning player from last season’s PMA group. She agreed with Austin that it would be good to have young stars as part of this year’s program.
“They’re new faces in the league, younger faces closer to college age, so they’re going to bring in more college fans,” Ogunboere said. “They have a big fan base and will definitely attract more attention.”
Players can earn up to $250,000 each by serving as brand ambassadors for the league and its partners, including Skims, Google and hair care company Mielle. The 2020 collective bargaining agreement requires the league to spend a total of $1 million annually on player marketing contracts. If the league does not reach that payment in one season, that payment will be carried over to the next season.
Ogunbowale appeared in a Google ad last year that featured seven of the 10 players with marketing deals. Participating in the PMA program gives players the opportunity to supplement their WNBA income without having to stay in the United States to play overseas.
Lloyd, who has played overseas in the past, said, “I’m glad to be able to rest my body.”
Austin (hip) and Jones (Achilles) are rehabbing injuries that kept them sidelined at the end of last season. Both players are recovering well and should be back in time for the start of the 2024 season in May, he said.
“Everything is going well,” said Jones, who tore his right Achilles tendon in June. “I plan to be on the court once the season starts.”
She hopes that participating in the PMA program will increase awareness not only of her brand, but also of the Connecticut Sun. While in her free agency, Jones has really enjoyed her time with the Sun.
“We’re happy with Connecticut, but there’s definitely more to explore. We’re just going to take it one day at a time.”
Jones, Howard, and Boston all remain committed to basketball during the offseason. Jones and Howard are assistant coaches at Maryland and Florida State, respectively, and Boston works as a commentator for the Big Ten Network.
“It was something I wanted to stay around basketball and coach (Brenda) Frese talked to me about the possibility of coaching,” Jones said. “I’m really looking forward to it and excited. It’s been great so far.”
Boston really enjoys his time talking about basketball on the air.
“It’s been a lot of fun and it’s been fun. I think it’s really great to be doing this and to be on the other side of it,” she said.
The Player Marketing Agreement was first used with three players in the 2021-22 offseason, then the league expanded to 10 players last year. There are now six.
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