Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is making a major move to help players in the WNBA. As announced through a press release, Irving is making a donation of $1.5M in order to supplement the income of players who are opting to not participate in the ongoing WNBA season.
Bravo, @KyrieIrving pic.twitter.com/cNvoUqcg4p
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) July 27, 2020
Kyrie Irving, who signed with the Nets this past offseason alongside Kevin Durant, is notably absent from the NBA’s resumed season in Orlando. Irving is out due to the injury to his shoulder that resulted in season-ending surgery.
One of the primary reasons players are choosing to not participate win the WNBA season is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis has caused the entirety of the season to be sequestered to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The WNBA previously held their 2020 Draft in a virtual setting due to the coronavirus, a move that was then emulated by the NFL and MLB.
Most notable among WNBA players who have opted-out for this season is reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics, who recently detailed her ongoing battle with Lyme disease.
