Wouldnt Lee likely make considerably more money with much less competition if she stays?
A couple of things here. First, her choice wasn't between staying and going to the wnba. Her choice was between going into her career as a counselor full time, or playing one more year while continuing to work, part time. Second, if the choice was between the wnba and coming back to play and collect some nil, she likely would have made more in the wnba, even with the tiny salary of $72,000 that she would have gotten. Endorsement deals aren't specific to college athletes and she wasn't just handed 6 or 7 figures, for nothing, like some college athletes are.