WNBA players bring the energy day in and day out, as showcased so far in the 2023 WNBA playoffs. They’ve been the driving force in building the WNBA into the US’s longest-running professional women’s sports league. However, the differences in their pay compared to their NBA counterparts are significant. So, how much do WNBA players make?
Key takeaways:
- The 2023 WNBA average salary is $121,604.
- WNBA players are paid more than ever but make significantly less than NBA players.
- In 2023, WNBA players can earn a maximum of $234,936 base salary. This supermax contract salary will increase to $241,984 in 2024.
- In 2023, WNBA players cannot make less than $62,285 base salary. This salary minimum will increase to $64,154 in 2024.
Let’s explore what we know about the average WNBA salary, the highest and lowest-paid players, and how WNBA base salaries compare to what players can pull in from overseas competition.
Understanding WNBA Player Salaries
The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association sets the league’s salary structure. The two reached an eight-year CBA in 2020, establishing an agreed-upon pay structure for 2020 through 2027.
Under that CBA, players earn a base salary between the league minimum and supermaximum.
In 2023, this sets WNBA player base salaries between $62,285 and $234,936.
Where each player lands in base salary depends on their years of league experience and value to their respective team.
These salaries will continue to grow, which is good news for current players and those arriving in the league in the coming years. Both the league minimums and maximums increase every year through 2027.
Under the CBA, players also have the opportunity for additional compensation through off-season and team marketing agreements, a 50-50 incremental revenue share, performance awards (WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year), and the Commissioner’s Cup. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said players can make $650,000 from these bonuses on top of their base salary.
WNBA Salary Maximums
The WNBA has two tiers of maximum base salary – regular max and supermax.
In 2023, the WNBA regular max base salary is $202,154. The WNBA supermax base salary is $234,936.
The higher supermax base salary is meant for the most dominant league veterans and to encourage younger stars to stick with the team that drafted them.
There are three categories of players that can qualify for the supermax base salary:
- A veteran who has tallied five or more years of WNBA service after 2021 (or six years before 2021). They must also have been in contract for the most recent two seasons.
- A younger player signs an extension of their rookie scale contract.
- A free agent with five or more years signed with their prior team. Regardless of their years of service, free agents can also earn the supermax if their team designates them as core players.
Here’s a look at WNBA maximum base salaries, as laid out by the CBA:
| YEAR | REGULAR MAX | SUPERMAX |
| 2020 | $185,000 | $215,000 |
| 2021 | $190,550 | $221,450 |
| 2022 | $196,267 | $228,094 |
| 2023 | $202,154 | $234,936 |
| 2024 | $208,219 | $241,984 |
| 2025 | $214,466 | $249,244 |
| 2026 | $220,900 | $256,721 |
| 2027 | $227,527 | $264,423 |
Average WNBA Salary
The average WNBA salary is $121,604 in 2023, according to our calculations using salary data compiled by Her Hoop Stats.*
There has been a noticeable increase in average WNBA salary, with the 2022 average salary recorded at $102,751, according to Yahoo Sports.
* Only full-season contracts were used in this calculation. We didn’t include partial season, hardship, 7-day, or waived contracts in these calculations.
WNBA Salary Minimum
The CBA also governs the minimum base salary for WNBA players at the starting phase of their professional journey.
In 2023, for players with two years of experience or less, the WNBA league minimum is set at $62,285.
Those with three or more years of service have a higher minimum base salary. In 2023, that minimum was set at $74,305.
In what’s a sign of the league’s growth, the lowest WNBA salary has grown significantly over recent years. For comparison, the league minimum was just $41,965 in 2019. And in further good news, the WNBA salary minimum will continue to increase throughout the eight years of this current CBA.
Here’s a look at WNBA minimum base salaries between 2020 and 2027:
| YEAR | VETERAN (0-2 YEARS) | VETERAN (3+ YEARS) |
| 2020 | $57,000 | $68,000 |
| 2021 | $58,710 | $70,040 |
| 2022 | $60,471 | $72,141 |
| 2023 | $62,285 | $74,305 |
| 2024 | $64,154 | $76,535 |
| 2025 | $66,079 | $78,831 |
| 2026 | $68,061 | $83,631 |
| 2027 | $70,103 | $83,631 |
Learn more: What is the WNBA age limit?
The Highest and Lowest Earnings
The disparity between the highest and lowest earnings in the WNBA paints a vivid picture of the league’s economic landscape. Talented athletes are found at both ends of the spectrum. Still, the league’s salary system is structured to reward the highest performers and those who have been in the league longer.
Who is the Highest Paid WNBA Player?
Three WNBA players tie for the highest paid WNBA player.
In 2023, the highest-paid WNBA players are Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd, Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale, and Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi. Each earned a supermax salary of $234,936.
The league’s collective bargaining agreement sets the supermax, so $234,936 is a player’s highest WNBA salary. Generally, players are eligible for this supermaximum salary if they’re signing a rookie extension or have at least five years of experience in the league and are signing with their current team.
Lowest WNBA Salary
On the other end of the spectrum, 10 players in 2023 earned the lowest WNBA salary.
With two years or less of experience in the WNBA, each player was paid the league minimum base salary of $62,285.
These role players still have the opportunity for additional compensation on top of their base salary by engaging in separate marketing agreements with the league and their team, earnings through the league’s 50-50 incremental revenue share, helping their team win the Commissioner’s Cup, and earning end-of-the-year performance awards (WNBA Rookie of the Year).
WNBA Salaries By Team
The CBA directs the total salaries that each of the league’s 12 WNBA teams (soon to be 13; see our WNBA teams map) pays their respective players.
Under the CBA, teams must follow a minimum and maximum total salary (salary cap) for all players on their books.
In 2023, the minimum team salary is $1,188,990, and the WNBA salary cap is $1,420,500.
Teams can only go over the salary cap if the WNBA grants them hardship or emergency hardship exceptions because of injuries or other availability issues with players.
Here’s a look at total salaries by WNBA team in 2023:
| TEAM | TOTAL SALARIES |
| Atlanta Dream | $1,373,605 |
| Chicago Sky | $1,473,955 |
| Connecticut Sun | $1,420,713 |
| Dallas Wings | $1,422,602 |
| Indiana Fever | $1,353,656 |
| Las Vegas Aces | $1,445,084 |
| Los Angeles Sparks | $1,568,135 |
| Minnesota Lynx | $1,516,298 |
| New York Liberty | $1,446,733 |
| Phoenix Mercury | $1,497,615 |
| Seattle Storm | $1,385,930 |
| Washington Mystics | $1,458,970 |
WNBA Players Earning More Abroad
While salaries are growing, they are not yet where they need to be for players to feel comfortable, let alone being close to those of the NBA. Many WNBA players look to make up for this pay discrepancy by traveling abroad to play in other leagues where they’ll make significantly more money.
Nearly half of the league’s players have opted to play in basketball leagues overseas, namely in Europe, Turkey, Israel, and Australia.
Let’s explore the question – How much do WNBA players make overseas? – a venture many athletes undertake to supplement their income.
- The exact salaries WNBA players receive from playing abroad aren’t readily available. But SBNation reports that players can pull in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- A report from CNN placed potential earnings of playing in Europe at around $1 million per season.
FAQ
Who is the highest paid WNBA player in 2023?
As of 2023, the highest-paid WNBA players are Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale, and Diana Taurasi. They all earn an annual base salary of $234,936. This amount does not include endorsements and other sources of income.
What is the average salary of a WNBA player?
The average salary of a WNBA player in 2023 is $121,60 when considering only full-season contracts. It has significantly increased over the past few years due to the league’s growing popularity and enhanced collective bargaining agreements.
How much do WNBA players make overseas?
WNBA players often have the opportunity to play for overseas teams during the off-season, where they can earn additional income. The overseas salaries can sometimes exceed their WNBA earnings, with top players making hundreds of thousands to $1.5 million per season, depending on the country and league.
What is Brittney Griner’s salary?
As one of the most well-recognized stars of the WNBA, Brittney Griner earns a base salary of $165,100 in 2023. This total does not include any income she makes from other league revenue opportunities or sponsorship deals. Brittney Griner is the leader in WNBA dunks and one of the tallest WNBA players, and her WNBA player salary reflects her status in the league.
What is A’ja Wilson’s salary?
WNBA MVP in 2022 and two-time Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson earns a base salary of $202,154 in 2023. She earns additional income from other league revenue opportunities and sponsorships. For A’ja Wilson fans, we’ve compiled a list of the best A’ja Wilson shirts.
What is Elena Delle Donne’s salary?
Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne’s base salary is $234,350 in 2023. She earns additional income from other league revenue opportunities. Elena becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
What is Breanna Stewart’s salary?
WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart’s base salary is $180,000 in 2023. She took a lower salary when signing with the New York Liberty for the 2023 season to help build a stronger team. Breanna earns additional revenue from league revenue share and other opportunities and sponsorships with Puma and other companies.
What is Diana Taurasi’s salary?
As one of the great players in WNBA history, Diana Taurasi earns a base salary of $234,936 in 2023. Diana is the league’s all-time leading scorer and the person most people think of when considering who the WNBA logo is based on.
How Does the WNBA salary compare to the NBA?
While the WNBA has seen significant increases in player salaries, there still exists a major pay gap compared to the NBA. For comparison, the highest possible salary for a WNBA player in 2023 is $234,936, while the highest-paid player in the NBA is Steph Curry, with an annual salary of $48.07 million.
Why do WNBA players earn less than NBA players?
When looking into how much do WNBA players make, it’s natural to wonder how the two pro leagues compare. Top NBA players earn millions per season compared to the best in the WNBA, a discrepancy attributed to the NBA’s revenue, TV contracts, and sponsorships. However, efforts are ongoing to improve WNBA players’ salaries with new collective bargaining agreements and increased investment in the league.
More About WNBA Players
Learn more about the players that make up the WNBA by visiting our WNBA guide for fans.
