(ATR) Softball pitcher Monica Abbott of the United States will become the first woman in team sports history to earn a contract with six zeros.
Abbott signed a six-year deal worth $1 million with the Houston-based Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch league on Thursday.
"We are very excited to have the number one pitcher in the world in Houston for the next six years," said Scrap Yard Dawgs' general manager Connie May. "We have worked very hard to put a solid team on the field and Monica will be the final piece to this puzzle to give us the best opportunity to compete for the Cowles Cup in our inaugural season."
According to ESPN, the contract is "the most lucrative paid by an individual American professional franchise to an active female athlete in team sports."
"I think it's a proud moment for National Pro Fastpitch," league Commissioner Cheri Kempf told ESPN. "But I think it goes further than that. I think it's a proud moment for women in professional sports in this country."
The 30-year-old pitcher holds the NPF record for fastest pitch and is the only woman to throw a perfect game in the Olympics, completing the feat at the Beijing 2008 Games against the Netherlands. Abbott and Team USA would go on to win a silver medal at the Games.
Due to the NPF’s salary cap restrictions, Abbott’s base salary is only $20,000. The rest of the money offered in the contract will come from attendance bonuses designed to be easily fulfilled, requiring just 100 fans to attend games.
Abbott took to Twitter to react to the news, replying to several fans who congratulated her on the deal.
I have been waiting to share this with you all@ScrapYardDawgs #firstonemildeal pic.twitter.com/A2u6ctPTdB
— Monica Abbott (@monicaabbott) May 5, 2016Thank you sooo much! This is huge for female athletics #monicamakeshistory https://t.co/FqgHIqLAGQ
— Monica Abbott (@monicaabbott) May 6, 2016Written by Kevin Nutley
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