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How Much Do WNBA Players Make? Salary Breakdown & Top Earners (2025 Update)

How Much Do WNBA Players Make? Salary Breakdown & Top Earners (2025 Update)


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Updated: Mar 17, 2025

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has made significant strides in improving player compensation. With increasing revenue, sponsorships, and collective bargaining agreements (CBA), the WNBA salary range has expanded, offering players better pay than ever before.
Despite these advancements, the pay gap between NBA and WNBA salaries remains a widely discussed issue. Many fans and analysts frequently ask: how much do WNBA players make, and why is it so much lower than NBA salaries?

01
Factors Affecting WNBA Salaries
Factors Affecting WNBA Salaries
Factors Affecting WNBA Salaries

Several factors influence how much WNBA players make, including:

✔ Experience & Contract Status – Veterans earn more than rookies.

✔ Sponsorships & Endorsements – Brand deals significantly boost income.

✔ Revenue Growth – The league’s financial success impacts salary caps.

✔ International Play – Many WNBA stars supplement income by playing overseas.

✔ Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) – Determines salary structures & benefits.

In this article, we break down the WNBA salary range, including average earnings, highest-paid players, and the evolving financial landscape of women’s basketball.

02
What Is the Average WNBA Salary in 2025?
What Is the Average WNBA Salary in 2025?

The average WNBA salary in 2025 is expected to be around $130,000, a significant rise from previous years.

🏀 WNBA Average Salaries (2022-2025)

Year Average Salary 💰
2022 $102,751
2023 $113,295
2024 $128,250
2025 (Projected) $130,000+

🔹 Salaries are rising steadily, reflecting the growth of the WNBA! 🚀


📌 What’s Driving the Salary Increase?


✔ The 2020 CBA agreement established higher base salaries and revenue-sharing incentives.

✔ WNBA teams receive greater sponsorship investments, leading to higher payroll budgets.

✔ Players are demanding better contracts as the league continues to grow.

If you're wondering, how much does WNBA players make compared to past years, the steady growth in salaries is a promising sign.

03
Highest Paid WNBA Player 2024-2025: Who Earns the Most?
Highest Paid WNBA Player 2024-2025: Who Earns the Most?

The highest-paid WNBA player in 2024-2025 is expected to be Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings, earning $234,936 per season.

📌 Top 5 Highest Paid WNBA Players (2024-2025)

🏆 Rank 🏀 Player 🏟 Team 💰 Salary (2024-25)
1️⃣ Arike Ogunbowale Dallas Wings $234,936
2️⃣ Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm $234,936
3️⃣ Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury $234,936
4️⃣ Breanna Stewart New York Liberty $202,154
5️⃣ Elena Delle Donne Washington Mystics $200,000+

🔥 WNBA stars are securing top contracts as the league grows! 🚀


🔥 How Do They Earn More?

✔ Endorsements: Nike, Puma, and Adidas deals add millions to their income.

✔ Overseas Contracts: Some WNBA stars play in Europe or China, earning $500K+ per season

📌 Example: Brittney Griner played for a Russian team earning $1M+ per season, nearly 4x her WNBA salary

04
Lowest Paid WNBA Player: Who Earns the Least?
Lowest Paid WNBA Player: Who Earns the Least?

The lowest paid WNBA player in 2025 will earn around $64,154, the league’s minimum salary for rookies.

📌 Why Do Some Players Earn Less?

✔ Rookie Contracts – First-year players have salary caps.

✔ Limited Roster Spots – With only 144 WNBA players, competition is fierce.

✔ Team Salary Cap Limits – Teams must balance payroll across the roster.

📌 Who Earns the Lowest?

Typically, bench players and first-year athletes sign minimum contracts, making between $64,154 and $76,535.

05
Minimum WNBA Salary: The League’s Baseline Pay
Minimum WNBA Salary: The League’s Baseline Pay

🏀 WNBA Minimum Salaries (2025 Projections)

📊 League-established minimum salaries:

Player Type 💰 Minimum Salary (2025)
🏆 Rookies $64,154
🔹 Players with 3+ Years of Experience $76,535
🔥 Veterans (6+ Years) $120,000+

📌 Veterans with max contracts can easily surpass $200,000 per year! 💰🚀

06
WNBA Salary Structure Over the Years
WNBA Salary Structure Over the Years

📊 WNBA Salary Growth (2022-2025)

Year 💰 Max Salary 📊 Average Salary 🔹 Min Salary
2022 $228,094 $102,751 $60,471
2023 $232,000 $113,295 $62,285
2024 $234,936 $128,250 $64,154
2025 (Projected) $240,000+ $130,000+ $65,000+

🔹 Supermax contracts allow top players to exceed $234,936.
🔹 Revenue-sharing incentives could push salaries even higher! 🚀🏀

07
WNBA vs. NBA Salary Comparison: The Pay Gap
WNBA vs. NBA Salary Comparison: The Pay Gap

The NBA vs. WNBA salary gap remains significant:

📊 Top Salary Comparison: WNBA vs. NBA

🏆 League 🏀 Top Player 💰 Max Salary
WNBA Arike Ogunbowale $234,936
NBA Steph Curry $48.07M

🔹 NBA stars earn significantly more than WNBA players, highlighting the ongoing pay gap in professional basketball.

📌 Why the Gap Exists

✔ NBA Revenue (2024): $10B+ vs. WNBA Revenue: $200M+

✔ Higher TV Deals & Sponsorships for the NBA

✔ Larger Fanbase & Ticket Sales

08
Rookie Salaries in the WNBA: Entry-Level Pay
Rookie Salaries in the WNBA: Entry-Level Pay

📊 Rookie Salary Structure (2025)

🏆 Draft Round 💰 Base Salary
1st Round Picks $76,535
2nd Round Picks $70,000
3rd Round Picks $64,154

📌 Top draft picks earn more but still fall short compared to NBA rookies.

09
Efforts to Improve WNBA Salaries & Pay Equity
Efforts to Improve WNBA Salaries & Pay Equity
 Efforts to Improve WNBA Salaries & Pay Equity

✔ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) – New policies improving salaries.

✔ Revenue Sharing – Players receive higher earnings from league profits.

✔ Higher TV Deals – ESPN and Amazon Prime boosting WNBA exposure.

📌 By 2027, salaries could rise another 20-30%, creating a better financial future for WNBA athletes.

10
Conclusion: Will WNBA Salaries Continue to Rise?
Conclusion: Will WNBA Salaries Continue to Rise?

The WNBA salary range is steadily increasing, and with continued investment, how much WNBA players make will likely rise even further. With higher revenues, growing fan engagement, and sponsorship deals, top players are now earning more than ever.

📌 Key Takeaways

✔ Average salary in 2025: ~$130,000

✔ Max salary: ~$240,000

✔ Rookies earn: $64,154+

✔ More endorsement & overseas opportunities boosting income

🔹 With continued investment, WNBA salaries will likely see a major increase by 2030.

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