To Karla Martínez, a basketball player from Women’s Aguascalientes Panthers of the National Professional Basketball League (LNBP), his voice cracked at the presentation of his new team. After years away from the country seeking to fulfill his dream of making a professional career, he will be able to do it at home for the first time. The creation of this new league, the Women’s LNBPoffers closeness to national and North American players with the guarantee of decent salaries and professional structures in every sense of the word.
Its start was delayed due to the effects on the economy that the pandemic brought with it, but it is already a reality. At the end of January, the identity and social networks of the new league began to be disseminated, the rosters began to be announced a few weeks ago and on April 23 the adventure began with eight teams: Halcones de Xalapa, Panteras de Aguascalientes, Astros de Jalisco , Liberators from Querétaro, Fuerza Regia, Silversmiths from Fresnillo, Adelitas from Chihuahua and Bees from León.
These teams play in the same venues as their men’s peers, have the same television and digital broadcast platforms, and are backed by the same sponsors. In addition, the general commissioner of the league, Alonso Izaguirrementioned in the presentation conference of the circuit that the salaries of the players were not very far from those of the men.
In interview with The Economist, Paola Beltrán (Halcones de Xalapa player), Alejandra Sánchez (Astros de Jalisco) and Brihanna Jackson (Libertadoras de Querétaro) highlighted the professionalism they have found in the Women’s LNBP, where they have a large multidisciplinary team that takes care of their diet, hours of rest, work loads and health with rehabilitation. The basketball players also agree that, among the leagues in which they have played in Mexico (Mexican Women’s Professional Basketball League and Chihuahua State League), this new option is the one that has offered them the best salaries, although they did not specify figures.
“They have given us a very good treatment, they take care of us physically, they prepare us very well and they prepare themselves too, which I think is a very important part of growing as a professional basketball player. The LNBP It is a very good opportunity for women’s basketball, I think we have to make the most of it and learn from everything that is happening”, said Paola Beltrán.
Alejandra Sánchez, a player with a 10-year career in Mexican basketball, commented that among the aspects she considered to change leagues was the economic factor, however, the temporary nature of the league, of less than three months, does not prevent her from having a Second job. The player of Jalisco Stars It also remotely manages a company that is dedicated to construction and maintenance.
“It is the first time that I dedicate myself 100% to the morning and afternoon training sessions, but even so my entire career has been dedicated to another job. I have three children and the salary I received as a player was not enough, apart from the fact that the league was not long enough to be active all year, but rather it lasts three or four months. But I have always been able to combine my work with being a professional athlete. Even in this league, I’m with the Astros full time but still, and I speak for most of my teammates, we have another job virtually.”
Brianna Jackson is a foreign player originally from Tampa, Florida, who decided to bring her career to Mexico a few years ago for reasons such as the proximity to the United States and the short period of time that the tournaments last, which prevents her from going to stay for eight or nine months in Europe. The regular season of the Women’s LNBP will run until June 12 and the finals until July 17 at the latest.
“It gives us the opportunity to play closer to the United States, but I think it’s important for women in general to improve the league, improve salaries and give women the love and respect they deserve,” Jackson said.
The goal of the North American is to reach the WNBA and considers that every opportunity she has to expose her talent brings her a little closer.
“Every time I play it is an opportunity to show the world what I can do. I have a dream to play in the WNBA and playing here in Mexico gives me a platform to showcase my talent and allows me to have videos to send to teams I’m trying to get into. It’s a great opportunity for me to keep playing.”
The channels that will be covering the tournament are Adrenalina, Canal Once, Multimedios, TVC Deportes, Heraldo Media Group, AYM Sports, Hi! Sports, Fiba Americas, Samsung Plus, LAS; and digitally through Internet TV and Facebook.
“When I heard about it (streaming platforms) I got excited because my family will be able to see me. To all the foreign players, regardless of where they are from, they give their families a place to watch their games, to follow them throughout the season,” added the Libertadoras basketball player.
—With your experience in leagues in the United States, Brazil, Spain, Puerto Rico and Poland, in what areas do you see this league could improve in the short term?
—“After playing in these different leagues, one of the things that I see is that the ways in which coaches teach the game, the way they apply it and how they instruct practice, I would like to see an improvement. I’ve played in many countries and comparing them I think the most important part of training is applying what you know how to do in games, so you should make practice as similar to a game as possible. I think the league can grow in terms of how coaches can teach players how to approach the game,” Jackson responded.
First season of the Women’s LNBP
- 8 Teams.
- 4 Foreigners maximum in each team.
- 8 local games.
- 8 visiting games.
- 64 regular season games.
- 96 seats on average for basketball players
- 13 transmission channels.
- 4 global sponsors.
- 17 million pesos of investment on average costs the operation.
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