How much do WNBA players make? Top 10 salaries, max contracts, rookie deals for 2022 season

The WNBA is back for its 26th season and this year looks poised to be one of its most intriguing campaigns in recent memory.

The Chicago Sky edged past the Las Vegas Aces to claim its first time in franchise history last season. Kahleah Copper won Finals MVP, Candace Parker shed tears and the basketball world wondered what moves teams could make to push themselves into the upper echelon of the league.

It was a summer filled with transactions: the Sparks added Liz Cambage and Katie Lou Samuelson, reinvigorating a talented squad; Diamond DeShields joined Phoenix, adding to the Mercury’s impressive depth. And guard Rhyne Howard went No. 1 overall to the Atlanta Dream.

The W has continued to steadily grow in popularity over the years. But, added interest makes one wonder: How much do WNBA players make?

Well, Sporting News has you covered, detailing rookie salaries, max and supermax deals, as well as a list of the top-10 highest-paid players in the league.

How much do WNBA players make?

The average WNBA salary for the 2020-21 season was $120,648, according to Yahoo Finance.

There are only 14 players making $200,000 or more, according to Sportrac, headlined by Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, who are all earning $228,094.

By comparison, 17 NBA players earn at least $35 million per season, according to ESPN.

How much do WNBA rookies make?

The base salary for WNBA rookies varies on when (or if) players were selected in the WNBA Draft. For picks No. 1-4 in the 2022 WNBA Draft, the base salary is expected to be $72,141 in year one. For picks 5-8, the rookie base salary drops to $69,224. Picks 9-12 earn $66,306, while second round picks will receive $63,389 in 2022. Third rounders and undrafted rookies will receive $60,471, per Her Hoop Stats.

The contracts are non-negotiable, except for circumstances involving undrafted rookies, whose contracts can be one or two years.

Pick2022202320242025 (team option)
1-4$72,141$73,584$80,943$91,981
5-8$69,224$70,609$77,669$88,261
9-12$66,306$67,634$74,398$84,543
Second rounder$63,389$64,657$71,124$80,823
Third rounder$60,471$61,682$64,767$74,019
Undrafted rookie$60,471$61,682  

Rookie contracts aren’t protected by the league’s CBA, per Her Hoop Stats, meaning players only receive compensation for the part of the season when they are actually on the roster.

According to Her Hoop Stats, rookie base salaries increase by three percent year over year, meaning that picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft will receive three percent more than the top four picks in the 2021 draft.

Meanwhile, rookies’ salaries increase by two percent between their first and second season. Drafted rookies receive a 10 percent salary bump between year two and year three of their contract and, if offered a team option in year four, stand to receive another sizable contract boost.

Who is the highest-paid WNBA player?

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd and Seattle forward Breanna Stewart are the highest-paid players in the WNBA, each earning $228,094, according to Spotrac.

What does a max contract look like in the WNBA?

As is the case in the men’s game, the WNBA has both max and supermax deals for the league’s truly elite players. The standard maximum contract is for 14.2 percent of a team’s salary. Meanwhile, the supermax, designed to reward the league’s best players and push younger players to remain with the team that drafted them, is 16.5 percent of a team’s salary.

The supermax pays players about 16 percent more than a standard max contract, according to Her Hoop Stats. For the 2022 season, the highest supermax deal a player can receive is $228,094. The most a player can receive on a standard max contract during the 2022 season is $196,267, per Her Hoop Stats.

Highest-paid WNBA players

1.Diana TaurasiPhoenix Mercury$228,094
2.Jewell LoydSeattle Storm$228,094
3.Breanna StewartSeattle Storm$228,094
4.DeWanna BonnerConnecticut Sun$227,900
5.Skylar Diggins-SmithPhoenix Mercury$227,900
6.Brittney GrinerPhoenix Mercury$227,900
7.Elena Delle DonneWashington Mystics$227,900
8.Natasha HowardNew York Liberty$221,450
9.Tiffany HayesAtlanta Dream$215,000
10.Alyssa ThomasConnecticut Sun$206,000