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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32326
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Stormeo
Joined: 14 Jul 2019 Posts: 4701
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Posted: 05/05/21 9:25 pm ::: |
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Interesting. Great post, myrtle.
As a total layperson, I would think child labor laws could potentially come into play here since she's only 15.
But for wbb & the W, I mean... you look at the NBA – which of course also owns the WNBA. Teens with one year of college under their belt are currently eligible and drafted annually. For the sake of discussion, could it be argued that that's age/gender discrimination? Two Leagues owned by the same company of sorts, one for each main 'gender' (which is its own hyper-relevant topic these days, isn't it), but some could possibly view each League's respective entry rules as a double standard...
Clark or Bueckers should sue the League on this basis (or both of them – class action suit! Girl power! #CountIt ) if they're bored this summer, just to test this all out.
Well, really, that ship has sort of sailed since they just finished their first year at college, but oh well. Azzi Fudd, you've got next! #BetOnWomen
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Richyyy
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 24327 Location: London
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Posted: 05/05/21 9:51 pm ::: |
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Lots of things could be argued. The primary difference, at the moment, is that the WNBA (and, separately, NBA) has a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The NWSL doesn't. So the players have a union which has agreed the rules with their league, and signed a document to set those rules. The NWSL hasn't, and that's a key part of the argument being made in this case.
So a basketball player who wanted to make a stink would need a different argument. |
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Youth Coach
Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 4752
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Posted: 05/06/21 6:17 am ::: |
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A 15 year old does not need to be playing professionally.
Yes of course it may be possible for her to do so, but just because it may be possible doesn't mean it's a good idea. |
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ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 11105
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Posted: 05/06/21 10:31 am ::: |
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Youth Coach wrote: |
A 15 year old does not need to be playing professionally.
Yes of course it may be possible for her to do so, but just because it may be possible doesn't mean it's a good idea. |
Who are we to say? Maybe her family desperately needs every penny ...
_________________ Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32326
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pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 66773 Location: Where the action is
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Posted: 05/06/21 12:14 pm ::: |
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Note that some states have even stricter rules
_________________ Let us not deceive ourselves. Our educational institutions have proven to be no bastions of democracy.
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Richyyy
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 24327 Location: London
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Posted: 05/06/21 12:20 pm ::: |
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I'm not even sure if it's primarily about wanting to be paid to play; it's about being allowed to play at the highest level available. Plenty of female basketball (and soccer, actually) players in Europe play in their country's 'professional' league but actively avoid taking payment for it, so that they remain NCAA-eligible. But there's no rule to stop them making that league whenever they're good enough. This kid is saying I'm good enough already, so why shouldn't I be allowed to play at the top level? |
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32326
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Posted: 05/06/21 1:19 pm ::: |
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Richyyy wrote: |
I'm not even sure if it's primarily about wanting to be paid to play; it's about being allowed to play at the highest level available. Plenty of female basketball (and soccer, actually) players in Europe play in their country's 'professional' league but actively avoid taking payment for it, so that they remain NCAA-eligible. But there's no rule to stop them making that league whenever they're good enough. This kid is saying I'm good enough already, so why shouldn't I be allowed to play at the top level? |
and apparently she already has a big Nike contract.
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awhom111
Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 4202
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Posted: 05/07/21 12:09 am ::: |
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Interesting situation with no rival women's pro league in the US yet, although there are some in the pipeline and she can't play in a league in another country until she turns 18 either.
The NBA does not restrict itself only to men, right? Technically any woman could then declare for their draft in their age 19 year. I wonder if the NCAA sees it that way and a woman could declare for the NBA draft, but keep her college eligibility in women's basketball like students can be professional baseball players, but compete in other sports in college. Strictly speaking, the WNBA has no age minimum, unlike the NBA, so I suppose one of the child prodigies who graduated at 14 or whenever is the youngest person to ever be eligible for the WNBA draft. That was the reason for my mildly tongue-in-cheek article suggesting that Juste Jocyte should enroll in any four-year college in the United States that will accept her this fall.
On the flip side, FIFA actually prevents women from playing in men's leagues even if the league itself does not mind. Canada's national team goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe had personal reasons for wanting to be in her home area so she tried out for the local men's amateur team, but they were told that she would not be allowed to play in a competitive game. |
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32326
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so-many-pickles
Joined: 17 May 2018 Posts: 96
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Posted: 05/26/21 10:37 am ::: |
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ClayK wrote: |
Youth Coach wrote: |
A 15 year old does not need to be playing professionally.
Yes of course it may be possible for her to do so, but just because it may be possible doesn't mean it's a good idea. |
Who are we to say? Maybe her family desperately needs every penny ... |
To me, her family needing every penny would be a point in favor of strong child labor laws.
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calbearman76
Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 5152 Location: Carson City
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Posted: 05/26/21 6:18 pm ::: |
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This is an issue that has been covered in tennis for years, back to the time of Chris Evert to Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Jennifer Capriotti, Venus Williams and now Coco Gauff. There was a 13 year old boy trying to qualify for the US Open golf this week. The only real differences are that this is a team sport and the issue of a union contract.
She should be allowed to play with the Thorns, but I would hope there are guidelines set between the team and the parents with regard to practice time, schooling and travel.
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32326
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Posted: 05/26/21 11:02 pm ::: |
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But does it open the way for similar signings in women's basketball ?
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