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Everything we know about the WNBA's investigation into the Aces' $100K player sponsorships

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 14: (L-R) Assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson, assistant coach/head of player development Tyler Marsh, Kiah Stokes #41, Sydney Colson #51, first assistant coach Natalie Nakase, A'ja Wilson #22, Chelsea Gray #12, holding Lennox Gray, Alysha Clark #7, head coach Becky Hammon, Jackie Young #0, Kelsey Plum #10, former player Ashley Joens and Kierstan Bell #1 of the Las Vegas Aces pose as a 2023 WNBA championship banner is raised after the team received their championship rings before their home opener against the Phoenix Mercury on May 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The WNBA's investigation into the Las Vegas Aces is still ongoing. As more details are revealed, the story about how this all happened is becoming murky.

In May, the Aces received financial gifts from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). The $100,000 payment presented to each player sent shockwaves through hoops circles, prompting the WNBA to launch an investigation quickly.

There are still many lingering questions about how these payments will work, including whether the payments will actually happen.

Here's everything we know about the $100,000 payments surrounding the Las Vegas Aces:

The LVCVA announced they were sponsoring all 12 players on the Las Vegas Aces roster

Sep 24, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the Las Vegas strip. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-710547 ORIG FILE ID: 20230924_ams_al2_0143.JPG
Sep 24, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the Las Vegas strip. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-710547 ORIG FILE ID: 20230924_ams_al2_0143.JPG

On May 17, Steve Hill, the president of the LVCVA, announced that the organization was gifting each Aces player with a $100,000 sponsorship. Here's what Hill said in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter):

"The offer is really simple: We want you to just play, keep repping Las Vegas and if you get a three-peat, that would be icing on the cake.”

The WNBA launched an investigation into the Aces $100k payments a day later

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 18: Las Vegas Aces signage is shown on a baseline after the team's 89-82 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776136462 ORIG FILE ID: 2153599696

According to Howard Megdal of The Next, on May 18, the WNBA opened an investigation into the LVCVA's new sponsorship payments.

Many people in league circles wondered if the payments could be a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Per Callie Lawson-Freeman of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the CBA does not allow teams or affiliates to enter into any agreement where the “sponsor, business partner or third party pays or agrees to pay financial compensation for basketball services (even if the compensation is designated for nonbasketball services) to a player under contract with a team.

But the Aces claimed everything was fine

Oct 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon celebrates during the Las Vegas Aces championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon celebrates during the Las Vegas Aces championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Our Mitchell Northam pointed out that the agreement could have major salary cap implications as well. However, the Aces maintained that everything was up to regulation. Here's what Becky Hammon told the media when asked about it:

"I'm gonna put it to you real simple like this. Most of sponsoship people go after the top two people...In this situation, from what I understand is they wanted the whole team. So, they went and called individuals ― agents."

"I don't know the details. I have nothing to do with it. The Aces don't have anything to do it. It's just odd, but that's basically what happened."

Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis chided the WNBA over how they handled the unprecented move

Oct 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis walks the red carpet during the Las Vegas Aces championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis walks the red carpet during the Las Vegas Aces championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Owner Mark Davis was not very pleased with the WNBA's actions and felt that the word "investigation" was too strong for what they were doing.

Per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, this is some of what Davis shared with him about the situation:

“When you say ‘investigation,’ other organizations that are in our community might say, ‘Hey, we may want to sit back and wait. Maybe this is illegal’ or this or that,” Davis said. “And I think that’s the wrong approach.

“Again, the word investigation is not good. It should have been, ‘This is great. Let’s see more of these come forward and do this.'”

However, the WNBA remained curious about a few things

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 21: Kiah Stokes #41, Kelsey Plum #10, Alysha Clark #7 and A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces walk on the court after a timeout in the first quarter of their game against the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 98-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776136469 ORIG FILE ID: 2154086466

Per Megdal, the WNBA hired an outside law firm to conduct its investigation further. The move is a significant shift in the league's investigation. According to Megdal, these are the things that the WNBA might want to know more about:

The WNBA's investigation has started and some details that were fuzzy are now a bit clearer

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 14: Chelsea Gray (L) #12 of the Las Vegas Aces, holding Lennox Gray, and Kelsey Plum #10 receive their 2023 WNBA championship rings before the team's home opener against the Phoenix Mercury on May 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776136454 ORIG FILE ID: 2153004584

Per Callie Lawson-Freeman of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, these are some of the new details surrounding the investigation:

How the Aces' sponsoships were built is rather interesting

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 15: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces is greeted on the court by teammates (L-R) Kiah Stokes #41, Kelsey Plum #10, Jackie Young #0, and Alysha Clark #7 during player introductions before a game against the New York Liberty at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Liberty defeated the Aces 90-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776136529 ORIG FILE ID: 2157761981

Here's more from Callie Lawson-Freeman on the reported construction of the sponsorships:

An uncovered email suggests the Aces weren't totally in the dark

Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon at a press conference at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon at a press conference at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Details have emerged in a recent publication of Megdal's Title IX newsletter that shows some potential holes in the story:

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Everything we know about the WNBA's investigation into the Aces' $100K player sponsorships