New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele explained why the NBA was more attractive than playing in Europe. However, what no one saw coming was how that statement would inspire a confession from a WNBA star.

In an interview with Just Riadh on YouTube, Guerschon said, “If you play three years in the NBA, you get a lifetime pension. After four seasons, medical expenses are covered for life. After five years, the medical coverage is extended to the entire family," said Guerschon.

"I want to play for five years in the NBA so that my family can benefit from that lifetime care," he added. Yabusele summed up why even bench players fight to stay in the NBA. And this statement caught Washington Mystics star Shakira Austin's eye.

The WNBA player reposted the statement on X, while lamenting the league's All-Star Weekend situation. "Must be niceeee, over here they telling vets to pay for a flight to All-Star weekend to get checked by a doc in a pop up tent," she captioned the post.

While the league has moved to charter flights for the regular season, All-Star travel and specialized medical facilities at neutral sites remain a point of contention for the WNBPA. And this is just one of the many things the WNBPA is trying to address with the new CBA.

The WNBA CBA deal

Despite multiple extenstion the CBA negotiations seem far from resolved. The league’s latest offer of increased salaries and 15% revenue hasn’t satisfied the WNBPA, which is pushing for 30%.

Union executive director Terri Jackson made it clear, “The players want a meaningful share of the revenue they are creating.” Last month, the WNBA players voted to authorize the WNBPA to “call a strike when necessary.”

And league co-founder Napheesa Collier has proven with Unrivaled that "it is possible to pay the players and create a successful business. And that’s what we hope to do in the WNBA as well.”

However, despite the January 9 CBA deadline almost knocking on the door, it seems the league and the players are far away from sealing the deal.

So while Yabusele might not have had any intention to flex, his words highlighted yet another difference between the premier men's and women's basketball leagues.

Written by

Fatema Kapasi

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi