Page 28 of Never Say Never
RAWLEY: A person. A her.
CONNOR: Okay, well, maybe if you’re into her, she’ll be into you back?
RAWLEY: She isn’t. I think.
CONNOR: Who is she?
RAWLEY: [hides in bushes gif]
RAWLEY: Avery Parker
CONNOR: For fuck’s sake.
8
AVERY
“Hey, Mom, you wanted me to call?”
She has me on speaker when she responds. “Yeah, good morning, sweetheart.”
It’s four days after theSunday Magazineinterview, and we have our regular season home opener tonight. Mom texted me earlier to give her a ring.
“Morning. I’m going to put you on speaker too and grab some caffeine.” I shuffle into the kitchen of my townhouse and get an Alani from the fridge.
“I have some news,” she offers. “Tell me when you’ve had a couple sips.”
Mom knows me well. I crack it open and take a drink. “Okay, go ahead.”
“It’s not the best update.” She sighs and my shoulders tighten.
“What’s going on?”
“I heard back from SkyHigh, and they lowballed the contract.”
“How bad?”
The number she gives is scary low. For WNBA players, endorsement contracts are critical to our financial independence and stability. Unlike our NBA counterparts, our team salaries aren’t enough to both live comfortablyandset up our financial futures.
The league is going to be negotiating increases for next season but right now I’m stuck with what I have, and who knows how that new number will land.
Several of my teammates have “normal” jobs or are actively planning for a long-term conventional career once basketball is over, because of our low pay.
I’m lucky that I don’t need to have a job because of savings from my college NIL contracts, and worst case, my family. But I want to stand on my own two feet, not rely on Dad’s money.
Not to mention be paid what I’m worth from a billion-dollar brand like SkyHigh.
“What the heck, Mom? I’m the number one pick, from a back-to-back NCAA championship team.” I don’t mention that I’m also a Parker, even though I would think it would help too.
“I know.” She stays unusually quiet.
“Mom, what aren’t you saying.”
“I need—” She takes me off speaker. “Aves, I need to remove my mom hat and put on the manager one.”
“Okay.”
“The feedback SkyHigh gave me was similar to Kayla’s. I hate it, but they said they’d only want to focus on print advertising because—and I’m not saying I agree—your personality might not translate on video.”
