SPORTS
Brianna Fraser's Global Basketball Journey: From WNBA Trials to International Stardom
Seattle, Washington, USAThu May 15 2025
Brianna Fraser has made a name for herself on basketball courts around the world. She has played in seven different countries across four continents. This experience has been a big deal for her national team, Azerbaijan. She played two games at the 2025 European Championships and helped them win against Lithuania. However, her journey in the WNBA has been a bit different.
In February, she signed with the Seattle Storm for a training camp contract. Unfortunately, she was one of three players let go by the team. But this isn't the end of her story. Fraser has always shone brightly on international stages. Since graduating from Maryland in 2019, she has become known for her offensive skills. Her financial journey, however, is a bit of a mystery.
Fraser has never played in the WNBA, but she has had stints in Romania, France, Poland, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey. The exact amounts of her contracts are unknown, but the average salaries in those countries range between $130, 000 and $620, 000 over four years. This doesn't include any daily allowances she might have received during her time with the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm. So, it's hard to pin down exactly how much she has earned.
Before being waived, Fraser was leading her team, Galatasaray in Turkey, with impressive stats. She averaged 16. 3 points, 7 rebounds, and 2. 6 assists per game. This performance caught the eye of the Seattle Storm, leading to her training camp contract. If she had made the roster, she would have earned $66, 079 for the 2025 season. However, since she was waived, she will only receive a daily allowance.
The forward position at the Storm is quite competitive. Players like Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Alysha Clark, and Katie Lou Samuelson form a strong group. Fraser's lack of WNBA experience put her at a disadvantage. Teams need to cut players to meet roster limits and cap space constraints. This is a common challenge in professional sports.
Fraser's college career at Maryland was impressive. She averaged 14. 8 points, 0. 6 assists, and 4. 1 rebounds over 131 games. She also had more than 500 career rebounds, making her a top defender. Despite going undrafted in 2019, she signed with the Connecticut Sun in 2021 on a training camp contract. After being waived, she built a successful career abroad.
She has played in France, Hungary, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, and Romania. In 2024, she won the Polish BLK championship title with Polkowice and earned Eurobasket. com All-EuroLeague Honorable Mention recognition. Despite being waived this season, Fraser gained valuable experience playing alongside top WNBA players. This experience will serve her well as she continues her international career.
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questions
How does a training camp contract in the WNBA compare to playing professionally overseas in terms of financial benefits and career development?
If Brianna Fraser had stayed with the Seattle Storm, would she have been able to teach her teammates any unique international basketball tricks?
How does the experience of playing in diverse international leagues contribute to a player's overall skill set and adaptability?
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