Please logout and login again. Headlines like The Highest WNBA salary is $228,000 while in the NBA its over $45 million are well-intentioned, but disingenuous at best. You might find some affiliate links on our website which are part of advertisement on this website. Michael Jordan was the first NBA player to sign a contract worth over $20 million and in fact it exceeded $30 million as well in a season (1996-97) and (1997-98) where he earned $33,140,000; this was a record he had held for 20 years. 2023 Salary: $234,350. According to 201011 NBA season game performance, the league's best players were not its highest-paid players. If not for the remarkably low average WNBA salary, the Ws stars would not be compelled to play in overseas leagues in the offseason. Bates has been compared to all time great players such as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The third highest salary on the 2022 championship Las Vegas Aces roster was all-star guard Kelsey Plum. In 2022, the highest paid WNBA players are Breanna Stewart, DeWanna Bonner, Jewell Loyd, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi. That concerted effort bared its fruit, garnering each member of the team $100,000. In 2019, prior to the new CBA, she capped out at $117,500. Candace played overseas for 10 seasons, in Russia, Turkey and China. All these are the details about the top 10 highest paid WNBA players along with their contract salary and net worth. Top highest paid NBA players in 2021. However, she did receive her full pay, thanks to the new WNBA CBA. She is famous for her multiple abilities and incredible guarding at the point region. Top 10 highest paid players in the WNBA. The WNBA's minimum for a player with zero to two years of experience is $58,710, while vets with three or more years of experience earn a minimum of $70,040. As a five star recruit Bailey chose UCLA over a multitude of other schools. A top-WNBA scorer, Skylar has been shooting hoops in the league since 2013. She also has 4.2 million TikTok followers, making her one of the most followed collegiate athletes in the United States.Haley, like her sister, has endorsement deals with Under Armour, Raising Canes, Intuit TurboTax, and Victoria's Secret PINK. Heres why: The WNBA is a 12 team league versus the NBA being a 30 team league. Most recently, her impact was big enough on and off the court to net her Sports Illustrateds Sportsperson of the Year. Breanna Stewart has signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia for 2020, and will return to EuroLeague play this season. Also Who is the lowest paid WNBA player? She was named the WNBA MVP in 2018 and was named. Liz medically opted out of the 2020 WNBA season due to the coronavirus pandemic, so she didnt earn any bonus or award money. WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military | How It Impact Their Careers In Wrestling? So she will now receive $100,000 to train in the United States. In high school, Stewart was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and a McDonald's All-American. She was drafted by Phoenix first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft. She's a sensational player. Bates has 501,000 followers across all social media. Over in Minnesota, Kayla McBride and Aerial Powersshocking Lynx acquisitions in a whirlwind period of free agencywill each receive max salaries of $190,550, out-earning new teammate and former MVP Sylvia Fowles ($117,894). The salaries and endorsements deals of DeWanna has contributed greatly to make her net worth touch the $1.5 million mark and making her the 4th highest paid women basketball player. Jackie Young of the Aces has an average annual salary of $252,450 and is currently the WNBAs highest-paid player in 2023. This is not dissimilar to the history of the NBA, just many years later. Meanwhile, just for reference, tennis phenom Naomi Osaka comes in at $57.3 million according to Forbes. Candace Parker Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images. This alone should be enough to argue for higher average WNBA salaries than the status quo, but we have two more points still to convince you further. In fact, Deloitte predicts elite womens sport revenues could top almost a billion dollars next year. No matter what is the sport, there is always a pay gap between the mens and womens event. This will lead to an increase in the average WNBA salary. And she deserves every bit of it. As of now, the details of her contract have not been announced. In 2021, she signed a new contract with the Vegas Aces on a one-year agreement of $221,450. When asked if overseas money was life-changing by60 Minutes,Sue Birdsaid it was for her. Jewell Loyd (born October 5, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Perfumerias Avenida of Spain's Liga Femenina de Baloncesto and the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Eight players, including Davis, have salaries less than $10,000. And she was the WNBA Finals MVP (which probably doesnt get the $15,450 the season MVP gets). Im ready to have next summer off and focus on getting a European contract where [its] 10 seasons here worth the pay. The women's basketball players who make the most money are typically the best players in the game. The 68 center for the Los Angeles Sparks has been selected to the All-Star team three times. Next on the list of the highest paid WNBA player in the world is DeWanna Bonner. Skylar Diggins-Smith. Shes also currently a member of Team USA. Shes racked up quite a resume. While Diana no longer plays overseas, her career there was an extremely lucrative one. So that she wouldnt get injured and not be able to play for UMMC. Skylar Diggins-Smith - $221,450. No matter how you slice it, the pay gap in the WNBA versus the NBA is remarkable. 2023 WNBA free agency is here, the regular season is fast approaching, and our staff of writers is working hard to bring you everything you need to know about every team in the league. 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper sits at the top of the Sky's salary cap, earning $200,000 annually. She played college basketball at Notre Dame. DeWanna Bonner spent 10 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, and in that time, she became one of the WNBA's superstars. 20 Highest Paid WNBA Players 1. Top 25 Highest Paid WNBA Players in 2022 & Ever, Breanna Stewart: Seattle Storm $228,094, Diana Taurasi: Phoenix Mercury $228,094, Brittney Griner: Phoenix Mercury $227,900, DeWanna Bonner: Connecticut Sun $227,900, Elena Delle Donne: Washington Mystics $227,900, Skylar Diggins-Smith: Phoenix Mercury $227,900, Natasha Howard: New York Liberty $221,450, Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun $206,000, Jonquel Jones: Connecticut Sun $205,000, Kelsey Mitchell: Indiana Fever $200,000, Betnijah Laney: New York Liberty $196,267, Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks $196,267, Kristi Toliver: Los Angeles Sparks $196,100, Courtney Vandersloot: Chicago Sky $195,000, Cheyenne Parker: Atlanta Dream $190,550. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But the reality is, the more brands that pump money into womens sports, the more the sport is going to thrive. Brandon Figueroa vs Mark Magsayo Purse Payouts | How Much Both Fighters Will Earn from PPV Fight? Obviously, shes worth every penny of her (too small) WNBA income and then some! And has had deals with State Farm and American Express in the past. This means in the NBA, the best paid player makes about six and a half times as much as the average player. Plum remains a seminal piece for the Aces, as they regularly look at her to break interior defenders and draw fouls on opposing defenses. The WNBA may be following a similar trajectory. However, some still manage to make 6 figures for their incredible performances. In this list we examine the top 10 highest paid college basketball players as of February 2023. Sherly is third on the list of the highest paid WNBA players with 99,500$ per year. Basketball icon, WNBA salaries: Who has the highest, league average, more. The highest paid player this season is, you guessed itJewell Loyd. WNBA stars Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, andJewell Loyd earn the most money in the WNBA, puttingthemamongthe highest paid athletesof all time. The second highest earner on the Aces is two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson. WNBA stars Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd earn the most money in the WNBA, putting them among the highest paid athletes of all time. Tiffany Hayes ($215,000) is the highest-paid player for the Atlanta Dream for the second consecutive year. After Delle Donne went public with her disgust at the situation, the Mystics backtracked and promised to pay her to stay home. The WNBA is on the precipice of a sharp inflection point where the total league revenue will explode and the average WNBA salary can finally increase to where it should be. Of course, athletes dont always see all their endorsement earnings in a single year, but weve included the guesstimated total amount for simplification. The 27-year-old has the 151st-ranked salary in the league at $1,607. Basketball is also no exception and women players receive much low worthy contracts as compared to men. UFC 285 Fighters Salaries | Jones vs Gane Purse Payouts | How Much Fighters Earn from PPV Money Bonuses? Also in the top 10 richest contracts in WNBA history are Storm legend Sue Bird and Mercury star Brittney Griner. Some of the WNBA's biggest stars are currently free agents in search of new contracts, including Breanna Stewart andCourtney Vandersloot. Your login session has expired. It isnt a surprise nor is it controversial that mens professional sports draw more attention and revenue and therefore the players are paid more. Data provided by HighPostHoops.com 2023 Average Rankings This season, Bonner will earn $221,450. If there is any change in the details, we will make the, available here. That is a lot of money , especially compared to what teachers get paid. Kidding. In 2022, shell make $227,900 from her Phoenix Mercury contract. The Las Vegas Aces big three of Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, and Kelsey Plum all sit somewhere in the top 30 WNBA players salary list, and for good reason. Diana Taurasi - 228.094 dollars. The salary cap is determined during the offseason, but as stated earlier, it is liable to change.[2]. At the end of the day, salaries have to be related to revenue. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Amazingly, in her 13th season, Candace was awarded the coveted 2020 Defensive Player of the Year. Deals can't be officially signed until Feb. 1. So she now rakes in almost $100,000 more than that. Would you be willing to send a $5 tip to our Venmo tip jar because it helps support this site and our reporting? Hansel Enmanuel is the highest earning college basketball player with an NIL value of $1.5 million. Below are the WNBA players who are paid the highest. The American professional basketball player signed a worthy contract with Phoenix Mercury earning her $224,870 yearly, contributing greatly to her total net worth of $400k. Speaking engagements net current WNBA players anywhere between $10,000 $50,000, plus Liz is a DJ! This means that not only is the average WNBA salary lower than it should be, the top tier female athletes are underpaid! For the first few years of the league's history, it was so unpopular that the NBA had to subsidize the operating cost of their female counterpart. For picks 5-8, the rookie base salary drops to $69,224. From my perspective, the gender pay gap in basketball is attributable to the WNBA being a new league and not achieving the viewership it is capable of. She has helped the Storm win two championships, with the most recent coming in the 2020 'wubble'. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. The Suns have clear championship expectations and Bonner will have to play at an elite level if they want to win their first chip. The LA Sparks, who lost superstars Parker and Gray in the offseason, will pay Kristi Toliver andWNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike max salaries of $190,550 each this year. This is a great book detailing the history of professional Womens basketball. Im with Roc Nation, where Im the only woman signed. Why Do College Basketball Teams Cut Down The Net? Jay Swingler vs Nicholai Perrett Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from PPV Money? As they say, acandlelosesnothingbylighting another candle. The highest player topping our list in total earnings ever is Candace Parker whos at $5.7 million per year. Wilson has signed NIL deals with Legacy Restaurant Group, MiniJerzeys, Charlie Hustle, Rally House, and Family Promise. The problem is just that the WNBA isnt pushed as well as it could be. In spite of the Suns disappointing loss in the WNBA Finals, Bonner enjoyed an efficient postseason that saw her come up clutch in the semifinals against the Chicago Sky. Skylar will make $227,900 from her Phoenix Mercury contract in 2022. Plus Skylars additional endorsements and her work as a Phoenix Suns broadcasts as analyst, altogether which weve guess-timated to be near $500,000. Shes made our list for all the other money shes raked in beyond being a WNBA rock star. Although the Storm enjoyed a trip to the semifinals last season, they will have a large gap to fill with the retirement of Sue Bird. And add that to her bank. Highest-paid WNBA Players of 2022 by Total Salary Dollar figures via Spotrac based on a 2022 salary cap of $1,379,170. In 2021, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith, DeWanna Bonner, and Liz Cambage were the highest paid WBNA players. 7. Even just a small increase in income in the WNBA revenue will lead to more equitable salaries for these players who are the best of the best. However, in recent years the popularity of the WNBA is skyrocketing. Plus, she was named to the 2020 All-WNBA First team, which added $10,300 in merit bonus cash to her wallet. In celebration, Mercury GM Jim Pitman emphasized the obvious: [Diana] is the heart of our franchise, the first face on our Mount Rushmore, the best winner and competitor in the womens game. And I take my off-season and use it to explore other opportunitieslike my basketball camps. And Jay Zs company has boded well for Skylar. And approximate what some of them might have made during a peak playing year. Well give a quick synopsis of the economic perspective here. Shes part of Carmelo Anthonys basketball video lessons program, and she was the first woman on the cover of NBA 2K. Diana Lorena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia. Women National Basketball Association is the top tier league which gave a new turn to basketball world by providing opportunity to female athletes to show their talent. In February 2020, Sue Bird told Howard Megdal, money has really never been the motivator in the WNBA. In equal parts, Bird enlightens the privilege of having a spot in such an incredibly competitive league and points out that the CBAs new salary structure marks a historic turning point for the WNBA. The 65 point guard is expected to be a future first round NBA Draft pick. Because after the NBAs Kyrie Irving saw her wearing his shoes, he told Nike, Okay, yeah, give her whatever she wants. So, well factor in another $2,000,000 into her income for good measure! WNBA Salary Rankings Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active WNBA players. Who is the highest-paid WNBA player in 2023? While the revenue versus player income statistics in the last sections were compelling in and of themselves, our silver bullet in arguing that WNBA players are due for a larger payday is looking at potential league revenue. Or learn how salary impacts WNBA free agency. However, shes often been very vocal about the low pay for WNBA players. Hansel Enmanuel is the highest-earning college basketball player with an NIL value of $1.5 million. NBA Player Salaries - 2022-2023 . In 2020, the leagues, Heres everything you need to know about salaries in the WNBA (all numbers via. Astonishing fact: Despite making our list of the highest paid WNBA players, Skylar has never lined her pockets by playing overseas! In 2022, the highest paid WNBA players are Breanna Stewart, DeWanna Bonner, Jewell Loyd, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi. Loyd is pocketing the contract salary of $231,515 whereas the endorsements have increased the net worth up to $2.1 million. Who is the highest paid WNBA player in the world right now? The base max salary is $190,550. 1. The lowest-paid player in the WNBA is Mercurys. She recently starred in some CarMax commercials. An exception is necessary to sign a player for a contract that would exceed the salary cap threshold of the "soft cap". High consumption of womens college basketball indicates that there is an appetite for increased consumption of womens professional basketball. How much a WNBA rookies makes depends on where she was drafted. She made $1.5 million per season with the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. Elena Delle Donne - 227,900 dollars. The $898,700 contract Natasha Howard signed the following year ranks fourth all-time. Known for her amazing ability to win championships (she has four WNBA titles under her belt) as well as accolades too numerous to mention (okay, well mention that shes the all-time WNBA assists leader and an 11-time All-Star, to name just two), the superstar point guard has started in 508 games.