Cleveland State University paid Sport Tours International (SPT) a total of $27,000 to play in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The WBI is a postseason option for eight teams who do not qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.
The 2021 Season
In 2021, CSU women’s basketball paid $12,000 as a tournament entry fee. The team was also responsible for all travel-related expenses for the WBI.
With the pandemic raging, the team was also responsible for all COVID-19 tests prior to arriving at the tournament and during the tournament.
The Vikings would go on to win the WBI in 2021, staying all four days of the tournament.
The 2022 Season
In 2022, CSU women’s basketball paid $15,000 as a tournament entry fee. The team was also responsible for all travel-related expenses for the WBI.
The team paid STI the guaranteed hotel flat rate of $160 per night the team was in the tournament.
The team was also responsible in 2022 for all COVID-19 tests prior to arriving at the tournament and during the tournament.
The Vikings would go on to lose the WBI in the final in 2022, staying all four days of the tournament.
COVID
COVID affected many teams nationwide during that time period, with games being delayed and canceled.
Cleveland State took a risk as the university was still on the hook for the entry fee. If anyone on the team tested positive at the event, that would have caused the team to withdraw.
Chris Kielsmeier’s contract extension
After competing in WBI two seasons in a row, Head Coach Chris Kielsmeier negotiated a contract extension that includes bonuses for future participation in the WBI that was not included in his original contract.
If the team is invited to participate in the WBI and the team has an overall record of not less than .500, Kielsmeier will earn a bonus of $1,500.
If the team wins the WBI tournament, Kielsmeier will earn a bonus of $3,000.
This extension became official in May of 2022.
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