By: Nina Samone
The WNBA season is in full swing and has been growing in popularity over the years. The talent pool has grown as well, with the rookie squad this year already making an impact and breaking records – NaLyssa Smith with the Indiana Fever and Rhyne Howard with the Atlanta Dream just to name a few.
With the talent the WNBA has and the increase in viewership and support, it begs the question from many – how much do these ladies get paid? Today we will be dissecting some of the highest paid WNBA players.
First, let’s start off with the highest paid per team. Every franchise except three – the Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces – have their highest paid player taking home more than $200,000.
Highest Paid Per Team:
Dallas Wings – Moriah Jefferson ($180, 200)
Los Angeles Spark – Kristi Toliver ($196, 100)
Las Vegas Aces – A’ja Wilson & Chelsea Gray ($196, 267)
Minnesota Lynx – Sylvia Fowles ($200, 000)
Chicago Sky – Kahleah Copper ($200,000)
Indiana Fever – Kelsey Mitchell ($200, 000)
Atlanta Dream – ($215,000)
New York Liberty – Natasha Howard ($221, 450)
Connecticut Sun – DeWanna Bonner ($227, 900)
Washington Mystics – Elena Delle Donne ($227, 900)
Seattle Storm – Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd ($228, 094)
Phoenix Mercury – Diana Taurasi ($228, 094)
Next, we will go over the highest paid WNBA players in the league this season, as well as salary averages. For the 2020-2021 season, the average WNBA player was bringing in $120, 648. As far as rookies in the WNBA, the No. 1-4 picks have a base salary of $72, 141, picks 5-8 have a base of $69, 224 and 9-12 start off at $66, 306. 2nd round picks will bring in a base of $63, 389, according to Sporting News via Her Hoop Stats. Many rookie contracts have a 2% increase per year.
Only 14 WNBA players will bring in $200,000 or more this season, a laughable comparison to the NBA, who has 17 players earning at least $35 million per season, according to ESPN.
Leading the WNBA in salary amount we have:
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) and Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm) – $228, 094.
DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury) and Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics) – $227, 900
Natasha Howard (New York Liberty) – $221, 450
Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream) – $215,000
Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces) – $206, 267
Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun) – $206, 000
Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun) – $205,000
Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky) and Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) – $200,000
Betnijah Laney (New York Liberty) – $196, 267
These salaries are from spotrac.
Sources:
Cash, Meredith. May 6th, 2022. Business Insider India. “The highest-paid WNBA players on every team.” <https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/the-highest-paid-wnba-players-on-every-team/slidelist/91377942.cms>
Suggs, David. May 6th, 2022. Sporting News. “How much do WNBA players make? Top 10 salaries, max contracts, rookie deals for 2022 season.” <https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/news/wnba-players-salaries-2022-top-10-max-contracts-rookie-deals/nekwwspimejhecw4iqscjvsm>
