WNBPA and Microsoft announce a paid apprenticeship program for players

By Staff

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and Microsoft announced a partnership that enables players to participate in a paid apprenticeship program at the technology company.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Microsoft in our efforts to further opportunities for Players to gain practical experience as they explore future careers beyond basketball,” said Terri Jackson, WNBPA Executive Director.

According to a release about the program, Microsoft LEAP for WNBPA, players will:

• Learn and apply Microsoft technology
• Build their professional skill sets
• Establish critical connections across business, technology, and engineering

The apprenticeship “is an immersive off-season technology readiness program” set to launch at the end of the 2019 WNBA season.

Participants will attend four weeks of in-class meetings at Microsoft’s main campus in Redmond, Washington, followed by 12 weeks of on-the-job training on the main campus or at other Microsoft offices.