[81alum]

I do wonder about the strategy.  I think some players hope to be drafted even if that gives them only a 50% chance of making a roster, if only because being drafted in the WNBA makes them more appealing to foreign professional teams.  My guess is that Prechtel can have an interesting career playing in Europe or Australia in the same way that players like Mikaela Ruef, Sarah Boothe, Shannon Coffee, and Nadia Fingall have had.  You can make enough to support yourself and learn another language and culture, not a bad start to life after graduating. 

The highest salaries in European leagues tend to be in Russia, Spain, and Turkey, and often pay better than the WNBA.  Greece and Italy would be next.  France and Germany pay very poorly.  Israel is in-between.

Despite the money, I don't think many Americans will be joining any Russian leagues any longer.  Russia paid well--over a million a year in some cases--but only to WNBA stars.

[81alum]

I do wonder about the strategy.  I think some players hope to be drafted even if that gives them only a 50% chance of making a roster, if only because being drafted in the WNBA makes them more appealing to foreign professional teams.  My guess is that Prechtel can have an interesting career playing in Europe or Australia in the same way that players like Mikaela Ruef, Sarah Boothe, Shannon Coffee, and Nadia Fingall have had.  You can make enough to support yourself and learn another language and culture, not a bad start to life after graduating. 

The highest salaries in European leagues tend to be in Russia, Spain, and Turkey, and often pay better than the WNBA.  Greece and Italy would be next.  France and Germany pay very poorly.  Israel is in-between.

Despite the money, I don't think many Americans will be joining any Russian leagues any longer.  Russia paid well--over a million a year in some cases--but only to WNBA stars.