WNBA salaries: Who has the highest, league average, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The WNBA may be a league on the rise, but its players’ pay is low.
Glancing over at the highest-paid players in the NBA reveals that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has the richest annual salary at a little north of $48 million.
As we dive into the salaries of WNBA players, however, the difference is stark. In 2020, the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement bumped the maximum salary for the highest-paid players from $117,500 to $215,000.
Here’s everything you need to know about salaries in the WNBA (all numbers via Spotrac):
Who is the highest-paid player in the WNBA?
In terms of base salaries, three athletes are tied for the highest-paid player in the WNBA: Seattle Storm stars Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart and Phoenix Mercury icon Diana Taurasi. Each had a salary of $228,094 for this season.
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Here’s a look at the top 10:
T-1: Jewell Loyd, $228,094
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T-1: Breanna Stewart, $228,094
T-1: Diana Taurasi, $228,094
T-4: Elena Delle Donne, $227,900
T-4: Skylar Diggins-Smith, $227,900
T-4: Brittney Griner, $227,900
T-4: DeWanna Bonner, $227,900
8. Natasha Howard, $221,450
9. Tiffany Hayes, $215,000
10. Chelsea Gray, $206,267
Who is the lowest-paid player in the WNBA?
The lowest-paid player in the WNBA is Mercury’s Kaela Davis. The 27-year-old has the 151st-ranked salary in the league at $1,607. Eight players, including Davis, have salaries less than $10,000.
What is the league average of salaries in the WNBA?
As of 2022, the league average of salaries in the WNBA is $102,751 among 151 athletes.
How much do WNBA rookies make?
How much a WNBA rookies makes depends on where she was drafted. According to Her Hoop Stats, here’s a breakdown of how much rookies drafted in 2022 made this season:
- Picks 1-4: $72,141
- Picks 5-8: $69,224
- Picks 9-12: $66,306
- Second round: $63,389
- Third round and undrafted: $60,471
According to Spotrac, Rhyne Howard, NaLyssa Smith, Shakira Austin and Emily Engstler, the top four picks in 2022, all have salaries of $72,141. Basketball icon Sue Bird, who plays for the Storm in what is her last season before retiring, is making the same amount as that’s also the league’s veteran minimum salary.
