Who Is The Highest Paid WNBA Player? Unpacking The Top Salaries In Today's Game
Have you ever wondered about the financial side of professional women's basketball, perhaps specifically, who is making the most in the WNBA? It's a question many fans and casual observers ask, and it speaks to the growing recognition and value of these incredible athletes. You know, modern WNBA players are earning well beyond their predecessors, which is a pretty exciting development for the league and its stars.
For a while now, it’s been clear that the WNBA's financial landscape is shifting, and that's a good thing. We are seeing players get paid more, reflecting their immense talent and the significant contributions they make to the game. It's almost as if the league is finally catching up, in a way, with the sheer skill and dedication these athletes bring to the court every single day.
So, who really stands out when it comes to the top earnings? Well, it's perhaps no surprise to see that it’s mostly the franchise leaders, the championship contributors, and the league ambassadors that are earning north of $200,000. These are the players who carry their teams, inspire fans, and, you know, represent the very best of what the WNBA is all about.
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Table of Contents
- Understanding WNBA Salaries Today
- The Top Earners in 2025
- Meet the Highest Paid: Jackie Young
- Other Notable High Earners
- The Bigger Picture: WNBA vs. NBA Salaries
- Rookie Contracts and Veteran Impact
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding WNBA Salaries Today
The WNBA's financial structure, you know, has certainly seen some improvements over the years. Players today are seeing much better paychecks than those who played in earlier eras, which is a really positive sign for the league's growth. It's quite interesting to see how the annual salary increase for the WNBA maximum player during 2025 shows improvement, signaling a healthier financial outlook for the athletes.
As a matter of fact, the WNBA’s team salary cap for the 2024 season stands at $1.42 million per team. That’s the total amount a team can spend on all its players combined. What's more, the maximum salary a single player can earn is $252,450. This figure is, you know, a pretty significant jump from what players could make just a few years ago, indicating a clear upward trend in player compensation.
It's worth noting that the league compiles a comprehensive list of top salaries, cap hits, cash earnings, contracts, and bonuses for all active WNBA players. This transparency, in a way, helps everyone understand the financial landscape. So, when we talk about who is making the most per season, we are looking at specific figures that are publicly available, which is pretty cool.
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The Top Earners in 2025
Looking ahead a little bit, specifically to the 2025 season, some names really jump out when we consider who will be earning the most. In 2025, WNBA players Arike Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd led the league as the highest paid WNBA players, each earning $249,032 annually. That's a pretty substantial sum, isn't it?
These two athletes, you know, are incredibly talented and have been key players for their respective teams. Their salaries reflect their standing as, basically, top-tier performers in the league. It shows that consistent high-level play and being a cornerstone of a franchise really pays off, quite literally.
It's also interesting to see how these figures align with the overall trend of increasing player value. The league is, arguably, recognizing the true worth of its stars, and that means bigger contracts for those who deliver consistently. This upward movement in player salaries is a good sign for the WNBA's future, as it attracts and retains top talent.
Meet the Highest Paid: Jackie Young
While Arike Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd were leading the way in 2025 annual earnings, there’s another player who actually leads the way in the annual value of contracts of all WNBA players. That player is Aces guard Jackie Young. She is making an average of $252,420 per season, which is quite impressive.
Jackie Young, drafted in 2019, reportedly came into the 2024 season with a salary that put her right at the top. Her two-year contract, valued at $504,900, breaks down to $252,450 per year. Not only is she the league’s top earner in the WNBA based on this average, but her contract also showcases the kind of long-term commitment teams are making to their star players.
At the very top of the list of the highest paid WNBA players, you will find Jackie Young. Her immense talent and consistent performance have certainly earned her this distinction. It’s a clear example of how a player's skill and impact on the court translate directly into significant financial recognition, which is, you know, how it should be.
Jackie Young: Personal Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Team | Las Vegas Aces |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Draft Year | 2019 |
| Average Annual Salary (Contract Value) | $252,420 (based on a 2-year, $504,900 contract) |
| 2024 Season Salary | Reported as a top salary earner |
Other Notable High Earners
Beyond Jackie Young, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jewell Loyd, several other players command significant salaries, showing the depth of talent earning top dollar in the league. For example, Kelsey Mitchell’s contract ranks among the top 10 biggest in the WNBA, placing her in the 10th position on the highest paid WNBA player list. She is an Indiana Fever guard, and she signed a pretty substantial deal.
Mitchell, in fact, will make $249,244 in base salary this season. This figure puts her right up there with the Wings' Ogunbowale, who also earns a similar amount. It's interesting to see how these top salaries are clustered around the maximum player salary, indicating that many players are hitting that ceiling as their value increases.
While we are talking about top earners, it's hard not to mention Diana Taurasi. Considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she has been a part of the league since 2004. Drafted as the first overall pick, Taurasi would have been much, much more valuable in today's salary environment, you know, given her legendary status. Her long career really highlights the evolution of player compensation.
The Bigger Picture: WNBA vs. NBA Salaries
It's a conversation that comes up quite often, and it's certainly a relevant one: the comparison between WNBA and NBA salaries. While WNBA players are seeing significant increases, the maximum salary a player can earn, which is $252,450, is a fraction of what top NBA players make. This disparity is, you know, pretty stark.
Yep, NBA’s Devin Booker is all set to rake in a salary of $72.5 million, while the W’s top earner doesn’t even come close to that figure. This difference really highlights the economic gap between the two leagues. The NBA is unique because it’s a soft cap league, and there’s an individual player maximum salary that is vastly different from the WNBA’s structure.
This comparison is not meant to diminish the achievements of WNBA players or the progress the league has made. Rather, it simply puts the current salary figures into perspective. It shows, in a way, that while modern WNBA players are earning well, there is still a significant journey ahead for parity with their male counterparts.
Rookie Contracts and Veteran Impact
The journey to becoming a top earner in the WNBA often begins with a rookie scale contract. These contracts are for players who have not previously signed to play in the league, so they are, basically, the entry-level deals. This is what Aliyah Boston signed after she got drafted, for example, which is a pretty standard path for new talent.
As players develop and prove their worth, their salaries naturally increase, eventually leading to those top-tier contracts we've been discussing. The league has seen its team salary cap for the 2024 season stand at $1.42 million per team, which dictates how much teams can spend on their entire roster. This cap influences how much individual players, even the stars, can earn.
It’s also important to remember that many WNBA players also play overseas basketball during the off-season, like in the Spanish Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. This additional play provides another income stream and helps them further develop their skills. It's a testament to their dedication to the sport, really, that they continue to play year-round.
Learn more about WNBA history on our site, and you can also link to this page for more player profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the highest paid WNBA player make annually?
The highest paid WNBA player, Jackie Young, makes an average of $252,420 per season based on her contract value. In 2025, Arike Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd also led with annual earnings of $249,032.
What is the maximum salary a WNBA player can earn?
For the 2024 season, the maximum salary a WNBA player can earn is $252,450. This is the ceiling for individual player earnings within the league's salary cap structure.
How do WNBA salaries compare to NBA salaries?
WNBA salaries are significantly lower than NBA salaries. For instance, while the WNBA's top earner makes around $252,450, an NBA star like Devin Booker is set to earn $72.5 million, highlighting a substantial financial difference between the two leagues.
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Who is the Highest Paid WNBA player?
Who is the Highest Paid WNBA player?
