Each of the 32 national teams in the 2023 FIBA men’s World Cup will receive “financial encouragement,” according to a report. A total of 3.2 million euros will be distributed among the participants, and the top 16 teams will receive an additional 100,000 euros each.

The report caught the attention of Belgium national player Emma Meesseman, who lamented the prize money – or lack thereof – allocated for the 2022 FIBA women’s World Cup.

“One year after the Women’s World Cup Championship, where nobody got any ‘financial encouragement.’ Thanks FIBA,” Meesseman wrote sarcastically on X.

The United States defeated China, 83-61, in the 2022 final, for its fourth consecutive championship. A’Ja Wilson scored 19 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals against China.

“This is why you sacrifice,” Wilson told reporters then. “My teammates hold me accountable. They put me in the best situation so I didn’t really feel tired. This is what we live for. This is honestly my job and I love my job. I love what I do and now I can go to sleep. I’m so excited. My bed is literally calling my name.”

Meesseman’s tournament ended in the quarterfinal, when Australia beat Belgium, 86-69.

In the men’s final, Germany will play Serbia on Sunday morning.

As the WNBA offseason approaches, so too do the implications of the prioritization clause in the league’s CBA, which will go into effect next season.

While players with less than two years’ experience are exempt from the rule, others must return from overseas play by the time the league opens its season — otherwise they will be ineligible to play in the 2023 campaign.

Chicago Sky players spoke on the rule Friday in their exit interviews.

Courtney Vandersloot said the rule is one of the reasons she signed just a one-year deal with the Sky. While she has played with Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg in the past, Vandersloot signed with Hungary’s Sopron Basket for the upcoming overseas season.

Belgian forward Emma Meesseman also has spent significant time playing overseas. Meesseman missed the last two WNBA seasons to play in Europe.

She noted that prioritization is not exactly the most friendly policy for international players.

“As a European, I don’t think that rule is fair to non-Americans [players],” she said.

Meesseman signed with Fenerbahce Safisport for the upcoming European season. She said she believes the Turkish club will tighten the timeline of its season to ensure that WNBA players are able to return within the timeframe set by the prioritization rule.

Seattle’s Gabby Williams offered up a clear picture of her priorities.

“I’m also shying away from the W because teams aren’t touching what I’m making in Europe,” she said Wednesday.

While the rule will throw a wrench into players’ and teams’ plans, Seattle’s Sue Bird provided a different perspective.

“The league was in a place of not negotiating without it. We wouldn’t have got the money, the maternity leave, without it. I’m not defending it,” she said. “I want the WNBA to be the only league people play in. I want it to thrive so we never have to go overseas.”

Emma Meesseman will sign with the Chicago Sky in her return to the WNBA, Rachel Galligan reported on Monday. The 2019 Finals MVP spent the 2021 season overseas with UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Up until now, Meesseman has spent her entire career in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics, who drafted her 19th overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft.

Signing Meesseman is a big pickup for the Sky, who are also officially re-signing 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper. But a major piece of their core, Stefanie Dolson, has reportedly opted to sign with the New York Liberty on a multi-year deal. The status of Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot remains unknown.

A high-scoring power forward, Meesseman averaged 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 2020. In 2019, she averaged 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. She was even better in the 2019 playoffs, averaging 19.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists en route to winning Finals MVP and the 2019 championship.

Reports from Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post also indicate that Tina Charles will not be returning to the Mystics. The former No. 1 overall pick joined the Mystics in 2020 from the New York Liberty. She did not play in 2020 but was a major presence on the court in 2021. Through 27 games, Charles led the league in points, averaging 23.4 points per game. She also added 9.6 rebounds, which ranked fourth in the league.

Emma Meesseman will not be returning to the Washington Mystics this season.

The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP revealed Tuesday that she has opted to rest rather than return to the WNBA following her time with the Belgian national team.

“The whole summer, I thought and believed I would join the Mystics again after the European Championship and the Olympics,” Meesseman said in a statement. “But it turns out the only right decision is to take some extra time for myself. I wish it was different because everybody knows I love the Mystics family. D.C. will continue to be my home away from home! I wish the team all the best and I’ll be rooting for them, like I always have.”

Drafted by the Mystics in 2013, the forward has played seven seasons with the organization, averaging 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in her career.

“We know this has been a long summer with her national team and understand her decision,” Mystics coach Mike Thibault said in a statement. “We hope she can enjoy the much-deserved time off and we look forward to possibly seeing her in a Mystics uniform next season. Emma will always be a part of the Mystics family.”

Meesseman will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, making her future with the Mystics uncertain.