Angel McCoughtry Faces Potential Financial Hit After Refusing to Return to Russia

Angel McCoughtry, the five‑time WNBA All‑Star and two‑time Olympic gold medalist, has confirmed she will not return to play in Russia, despite once earning her entire WNBA salary in just one month there. Her decision marks a potential major financial sacrifice, but one she seems prepared to make after witnessing what happened to her teammate Brittney Griner.

A Career Built on Overseas Paychecks

For many elite WNBA players, playing overseas during the offseason is the only way to make a sustainable income. McCoughtry is a prime example—reporting that in Russia she earned her full WNBA seasonal salary in a single month, thanks to the lucrative contracts Russian clubs offered The New Yorker+13Fox News+13Transcripts CNN+13.

Yet despite the financial upside, McCoughtry described Russia as “probably the hardest place I had to play,” citing harsh climates, cultural isolation, and difficult living conditions. Even playing there for three seasons, she says she would never return after what happened to Griner Transcripts CNN+2TMZ+2Fox News+2.

McCoughtry Speaks Out After Griner’s Detention

In a TMZ Sports interview, McCoughtry detailed why she’s done with Russia:

“It’s tough on us because Russia was one of the places where we made the most money. I was making my WNBA salary in one month in Russia. My whole salary. I think girls are going to go elsewhere and play, probably.”
When asked if she’d return:
“No, I would not go back. I would not go back. At this point, no.” TMZ+2Fox News+2OutKick+2

She echoed earlier statements made in 2022, when she and teammate Breanna Stewart commented on Griner’s detention:
“It could have been any of us”—a reminder that all players who go to Russia face similar risks New York Post+15Bleacher Report+15SI+15.

Why Russia Was Once Worth the Risk

Despite the danger, the financial realities were impossible to ignore. WNBA salaries are modest, with only a handful of players earning over $200,000 annually. Meanwhile, playing in Russia could pay up to four times more than domestic salaries, making overseas stints common among WNBA stars ESPN.com+9Bleacher Report+9OutKick+9.

Russia was historically one of the most generous foreign leagues. Earning an entire WNBA season’s pay in one month was not rare—it was the norm for top players like McCoughtry and Griner Transcripts CNN+3OutKick+3Fox News+3.

The Brittney Griner Factor

Brittney Griner’s 10‑month imprisonment in Russia began in February 2022, when customs officials discovered cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage. Though legal in her home state of Arizona, the cartridges led to a 9‑year prison sentence. The U.S. government secured her release in a one‑for‑one prisoner swap with Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer Bleacher Report+13Wikipedia+13people.com+13.

McCoughtry saw firsthand how quickly Russia could turn from attractive pay destination to dangerous liability. Her refusal to return comes less from financial principle and more from self‑preservation and solidarity with a teammate who experienced the worst-case scenario.

A Potential Sacrifice of Six Figures

If McCoughtry gave up three seasons equivalent to what she earned in one month, that’s a potential loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet, for her, that loss is worth avoiding the emotional and physical risk. The longer she and others speak about it publicly, the more pressure builds on both players and the league to reassess overseas risks Bleacher ReportSI.

The WNBA’s Changing Landscape

The league has recently raised player salaries under a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which runs through 2027. The top tier can reach base salaries of $256,721 by 2026, plus bonuses and incentives. But even that doesn’t match what overseas leagues offer. McCoughtry sees possible alternatives—Spain, Turkey, other European markets—but those pay offers still lag Russia’s scale and consistency Bleacher Report.

The WNBA is investing in charter flights, better travel conditions, improved maternity support, and expanded media coverage—but it may take several more years before players feel financially secure enough to avoid overseas work entirely.

What Comes Next for Brittney Griner

McCoughtry believes Griner will return to WNBA competition in the 2023 season, which began in May. She expects the league and fans to embrace Griner’s comeback, saying,
“Everyone’s going to want to watch her play. It’s going to be amazing.” Fox News+1OutKick+1.

Indeed, Griner made her return in 2023 with a strong presence—averaging about 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game—and was named an All‑Star starter that season Wikipedia.

Broader Significance: Athlete Safety vs. Financial Gain

McCoughtry’s stance puts a spotlight on the human cost of chasing income overseas. It raises larger questions:

Should players risk arrest, detention, or worse, for financial reasons?

Does the league have an obligation to help retain players domestically?

How much weight do emotional trauma and personal safety carry—especially after a teammate’s high-profile misfortune?

Her refusal is not just a personal statement. It’s a potential turning point in WNBA culture and economics.

Voices Within the League

McCoughtry was not alone in reacting to Griner’s ordeal. Breanna Stewart publicly urged that WNBA players deserve to be valued so they don’t feel forced overseas:

“WNBA players need to be valued in their country and they won’t have to play overseas.” CBSSports.com+2Bleacher Report+2ESPN.com+2

At training camp in Minneapolis, McCoughtry echoed that sentiment, stressing that any of them could have been in Griner’s position—and that realization changed her willingness to return overseas.

Final Thoughts: No Going Back for Angel

Angel McCoughtry’s decision closes a door on one of the most lucrative but hazardous chapters of her career. It’s not just about the money—it’s about what she witnessed, what she fears could happen again, and what she values now. The choice comes with real financial impact, but for McCoughtry, it’s a sacrifice worth making.

In essence, she’s declaring that no paycheck is worth risking your liberty—and if more players share that view, the entire calculus of overseas contracts may shift.

In summary, Angel McCoughtry, once financially dependent on Russian leagues, is opting out going forward, citing emotional, psychological, and safety concerns after witnessing Brittney Griner’s crisis. She estimates she once earned a full WNBA season’s pay in a single month overseas—but now firmly states: No, I will not go back. That statement signals a changing tide in women’s pro basketball.