Overview
- FIBA issued Valeriane Ayayi a letter of clearance, making her eligible to play for the Phoenix Mercury following a preseason hold-up linked to her former club in Prague.
- Ayayi missed the first two regular-season games because USK Praha initially refused to approve her release, citing late notice, before her camp sent contract terms and emails to FIBA.
- Cleared to play against the Minnesota Lynx, Ayayi made her Mercury debut and contributed in a two-way role after being upgraded to active for the home game.
- Her representatives now seek to subtract the WNBA salary she lost during the two missed games from the buyout they say is owed to USK Praha, a dispute that remains unresolved.
- Under FIBA rules, players moving between overseas leagues and the WNBA need a clearance to confirm contract obligations are met, a process that has gained new friction as WNBA pay rises and recent cases, including Dominique Malonga’s, show the stakes of timing and buyouts.