How Much Does The Highest Wnba Player Make?
When it comes to salaries in women’s professional basketball, the WNBA has seen a steady increase over the years. Fans and aspiring players often wonder how much the highest-paid WNBA player makes. According to Spotrac, Erica Wheeler held that title for the 2023 season, earning an impressive cap hit of $242,154.
Surpassing the salary of the second-highest paid player, Arike Ogunbowale, who earned $234,936, Wheeler’s earnings highlight the significant growth of player salaries in the WNBA. The average salary for a WNBA player in 2023 was $147,745. However, it’s important to note that $234,936 is currently the highest salary a WNBA player can earn for one season.
Comparatively, the salary cap for an entire WNBA team is $1,463,200. This figure is considerably lower than the average NBA salary cap, which stands at a whopping $136.021 million per team.
Top 20 Highest-Paid WNBA Players in 2024
In 2024, according to Spotrac, the top 20 highest-paid WNBA players are as follows:
- Arike Ogunbowale – $234,936
- Diana Taurasi – $234,936
- Jewell Loyd – $234,936
- Elena Delle Donne – $234,350
- DeWanna Bonner – $234,350
- Skylar Diggins-Smith – $234,350
- Natasha Howard – $227,900
- Cheyenne Parker – $216,100
- Alyssa Thomas – $212,000
- Jonquel Jones – $211,150
- Brionna Jones – $208,000
- Kelsey Mitchell – $206,000
- Kahleah Copper – $205,000
- A’ja Wilson – $202,155
- Napheesa Collier – $202,154
- Erica Wheeler – $202,154
- Marina Mabrey – $202,000
- Kayla McBride – $201,984
- Aerial Powers – $201,984
- Betnijah Laney – $201,984
Different Types of WNBA Contracts
In the WNBA, players have various contract options to choose from depending on their circumstances and the needs of the team. One common type of contract is the rookie scale contract, which is offered to players who are entering the league for the first time. These contracts have a predetermined base scale dictated by the player’s draft position, ensuring fair compensation for rookies while maintaining the league’s salary cap.
Another type of contract is the rest-of-season contract, which is typically signed by players who join a team mid-season or after the regular roster has been set. These contracts allow teams to fill roster spots and provide players with an opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially secure a long-term contract.
Replacement contracts are also utilized in the WNBA when a player is unable to fulfill their contractual obligations due to injury, personal reasons, or other circumstances. In such cases, teams have the option to sign a replacement player to temporarily fill the vacant roster spot until the original player is able to return.
In certain situations where a team is severely impacted by injuries and falls below the league-mandated minimum number of players, the team may be granted a hardship exception. This exception allows teams to sign additional replacement players beyond the regular roster limit to maintain competitive balance.
All contract types in the WNBA are subject to the league’s salary cap, which is the maximum total amount that a team can spend on player salaries in a given season. This cap is carefully calculated to ensure financial sustainability and maintain competitive balance among teams.
