Jailing of Brittney Griner won't shake allure of high pay in autocratic states, sports observers say
Basketball star Brittney Griner's politically charged entanglement in Russia may give other athletes pause when pursuing contracts in authoritarian states, though sports observers say economic need is what drives them to seek opportunities abroad in the first place.
And unless that changes, players being offered a better opportunity somewhere else may be tempted to pursue it, despite the risks.
Griner, a 31-year-old WNBA star, had been heading to Russia to play basketball each winter — reportedly banking a $1-million US paycheque, more than quadruple what she made back home.
Matt Slan, the founder and CEO of Slan Sports Management, a Toronto-based company representing basketball players, told CBC News that Griner's story seems likely to serve as "a harsh warning signal" to other athletes, but not necessarily a total deterrent to playing in similar authoritarian jurisdictions.