Kyrie Irving lends $1.5M to WNBA players skipping season

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Kyrie Irving isn’t just good in dishing out assists on the hardwood.

The crafty superstar committed to shoulder the salaries of Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players who will choose to sit out for the rest of the season due to COVID-19 worries, mental health issues, and social justice concerns.

Through the KAI Empowerment Initiative created by Irving, he will be donating $1.5 Million to all WNBA players and will also provide them a financial literacy program.

It was Natasha Cloud and Jewell Loyd who helped Irving connect and talk to some WNBA players regarding their concerns playing in the league.

“Whether a person decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health, or simply connect with their families, this initiative can hopefully support their priorities and decisions,” Irving said.

The past months have been rough in the United States, with social justice issues such as racism resurfacing amid the havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that still continues to rise with the absence of a vaccine.