How Much Are WNBA Players Paid? All About Their Salaries and Fight for Fair Pay

WNBA Players Push for Fair Pay Amid Growing Viewership

WNBA players are advocating for increased wages as they gear up for the 2026 season. Despite the league experiencing a surge in viewership and attendance in recent years, players continue to earn significantly less than their NBA counterparts. The call for pay equity has become a focal point in negotiations between the players’ union and the league.

During the 2024 WNBA season, the league saw a record-breaking 54 million viewers tune in across various broadcasting networks. Additionally, attendance levels soared to a 22-year high, nearly doubling from the previous year. However, the disparity in earnings between WNBA and NBA athletes remains stark. On average, a WNBA player’s base salary hovers around $102,000, while NBA players earn an average of approximately $13 million, according to data from Spotrac.

In a bold display of solidarity, some of the top WNBA players used their platform during the 2025 All-Star Game to demand fair compensation. Wearing warm-up shirts emblazoned with the message “Pay us what you owe us,” players like team captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier highlighted the ongoing fight for equitable pay. The players’ union is currently engaged in discussions with the league to establish a new collective bargaining agreement that addresses these concerns.

The salaries of WNBA players vary based on individual contracts, with earnings ranging from around $66,000 to $250,000 per year. Notably, rookies selected in the first through fourth picks receive identical salaries in their first year as part of the CBA. The rest of the players’ earnings are determined by factors such as years of service and performance incentives, alongside opportunities for endorsements and sponsorships.

Player salaries in the WNBA are linked to the league’s Basketball-Related Income (BRI), which comprises revenue streams like ticket sales and merchandise. However, unlike the NBA where player salaries account for around 50% of the BRI, WNBA players receive less than 10% of this revenue. Negotiated team salary caps and individual player salary limits are key components outlined in the current CBA, with incremental increases scheduled each year.

The average base salary for a WNBA player stands at approximately $102,000. Players like Kiah Stokes, Sophie Cunningham, and Tyasha Harris fall within this range. At the top end of the spectrum, players designated as “supermax” earners can command salaries close to $250,000. Leading the pack in 2025 are players like Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, and Arike Ogunbowale, who earn salaries around the maximum limit stipulated in the CBA.

Prominent figures in the WNBA, such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, have leveraged their athletic success to forge lucrative partnerships and endorsement deals outside of their league contracts. Clark, a standout rookie picked first overall in 2024, signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Nike alongside other major brand collaborations. Reese, selected in the seventh overall pick the same year, secured notable sponsorships and launched her own podcast to diversify her income streams.

As negotiations continue between the players’ union and the league to establish a new CBA, the spotlight remains on the push for fair pay and better working conditions for WNBA athletes. Players like Nneka Ogwumike have underscored the importance of aligning player compensation with their value and contribution to the league’s success. With ongoing efforts to secure a more equitable compensation framework, the WNBA players’ fight for fair pay continues to gain momentum and support from fans and advocates alike.