Phoenix Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi has received her letter of clearance from FIBA after beginning the WNBA season under a partial-season suspension, underscoring complications players potentially face when competing in the WNBA and abroad.

Ayayi, a three-time Olympian for France and two-time medalist, signed a one-year $500,000 contract with the Mercury in free agency, according to a source familiar with the terms of her contract, but she wasn’t available for Phoenix’s first two regular-season games due to FIBA clearance issues.

The WNBA does not have an exclusivity rule and operates under FIBA’s system that allows players in the organization to sign contracts in multiple leagues. Under this policy, a player must obtain a letter of clearance from the WNBA before competing in a FIBA-affiliated league abroad. Clearance is also required from a player’s international club by way of FIBA when seeking to play in the WNBA. The letter details that a player has fulfilled the terms of their contract and is permitted to play in another league.

Ayayi played in the WNBA in 2015 for the San Antonio Stars, now the Las Vegas Aces. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 16 games. She has since built a successful career overseas playing for the French national team and most recently, USK Praha in the Czech Republic. Ayayi was signed to a multiyear deal with USK Praha with an opt-out, according to a source briefed on the terms of her contract. Ayayi elected not to return to USK Praha following this season and was subject to a buyout but the club claimed they received notice late and denied her letter of clearance, according to this same source.

Evidence supporting Ayayi had fulfilled her responsibilities, including Ayayi’s contract terms and correspondence with USK Praha, was sent to FIBA, resulting in the federation granting her clearance to play in the WNBA on Tuesday. She was subsequently upgraded to available for the Mercury’s home game against the Lynx on Tuesday evening.

Because Ayayi’s WNBA contract will be prorated to reflect her absence for the Mercury’s first two games of the season, her representation is seeking the amount of money she lost be deducted from the amount she owes USK Praha in the buyout.

The letter of clearance system uniquely affects WNBA players because NBA players are subject to exclusivity rules that prevent them from playing in any other professional league. The only exception to the NBA’s exclusivity rule is national team play. However, players who are not signed to an NBA contract but are attempting to compete in summer league after playing in a FIBA-affiliated league do require a letter of clearance.

Historically, the letter of clearance has been a relatively seamless process; however, as salaries continue to increase in the WNBA, multiple sources who work in the WNBA and the NBA have questioned how this might impact players competing in multiple leagues.

Earlier this year, Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga was in a contract dispute with Turkish club Fenerbahçe that threatened to stall her return to the WNBA. The 2025 No. 2 overall pick originally signed a three-year contract with Fenerbahçe last year. The club announced on social media in October that Malonga, another French player, had “unilaterally terminated” her contract without cause and as a result Fenerbahçe would be taking legal action to “seek compensation for any material and moral damages incurred by our club during this process.”

Ultimately, Malonga received clearance in mid-April before preseason games began.