Who does Gabby Williams play for? The reason why she plays professional basketball in Europe

She was born and raised in the US, but plays for the France national team because her mother is French. Williams was drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 WNBA draft and then traded to the Seattle Storm in 2022, but her professional career has been played in the mostpart in Europe, but why?

Why Gabby Williams plays in Europe

The basketball star obviously feels at home on the other side of the pond unlike many other pro athletes who struggle being far from home when they leave for Europe. Homesickness isn’t a problem for Williams and her bank account isn’t complaining either. Surprisingly for some, women basketball players get paid more in Europe than they do in the WNBA. We were all shocked when we heard what Caitlin Clark was going to make during her first year for the Indiana Fever. Of course WNBA veterans make more than the $78,000 per year that rookies make, but in Europe the salaries are between $200,000 and $300,000 per year for top-notch players on the best teams.

Things get complicated with the WNBA prioritization clause, which has basically made players choose between playing abroad or playing for the WNBA. In the case of Williams, her rights belong to the Seattle Storm, but she chose to play for ASVEl in France last year. This season she has signed with powerhouse Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Turkey. Her contract details are not available, but changes are she will be in the $200,000 to $300,000 per year range. It is uncertain if she will return to the WNBA in 2025.