American women’s basketball player Mikayla Cowling, who plays for the Polish women’s club VBW Arka Gdynia, was attacked at a club in Gdansk, a city in northern Poland, last Wednesday. According to reports, Cowling has a fractured eye socket as a result of the attack.
“I am outraged that such a shameful situation has occurred. Violence and aggression are unacceptable and must be opposed,” Gdynia Mayor Wojciech Szczurek said Sunday on X. “Fortunately, the police quickly caught the attacker. We wish the player good health!”
Unprovoked Attack
The attack happened after a EuroCup women’s match in which Gdynia defeated Swiss rival BCF Elfic Fribourg 77-47.
Cowling was hit multiple times according to reports, late last Wednesday night, Oct. 18. Multiple strikes landed on her head, and when she fell, she was also kicked several times.
The assailant is a 48-year-old man who was arrested last Friday, Oct. 20.
Cowling is now at home under observation and will have additional tests next week.
She played collegiately at California, Berkeley from 2014-18 before being selected with the 33rd pick of the 2018 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. Cowling never played for the Sun and has spent her professional career overseas.
American Women’s Hoopers Playing Overseas
Many American-born women’s hoopers play overseas, not just famous ones in the WNBA. The EuroLeague is considered the most talented and competitive international league.
The annual event is hosted by FIBA and features 16 of Europe’s top teams, with a regular-season group stage and an eight-team playoff culminating in a neutral-site championship.
Cowling was in a EuroCup game. That is the second-level basketball competition with teams from associate members of FIBA Europe and it follows a similar format to EuroLeague.
For many American players playing overseas is a chance to supplement the income they make in the U.S. But for a player like Cowling, who isn’t in the WNBA, this is how she makes all of her income.
The salaries overseas are not as high as you might think. The superstars make $500K or more but that’s only a handful of players. Many survive on as little as $3K per month.