Who is the highest-paid WNBA player? How much does the highest-paid WNBA player make? These are only a few of the most common questions for many within the sports community. In fact, the answers might surprise you.
Here are the top 20 highest-paid WNBA players in 2024, sorted in reverse order. Scroll all the way to the bottom for more information on WNBA salaries.
20. Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics
- Ariel Atkins contract: Two years, $400,000
- Ariel Atkins salary: $200,000
Not only is Ariel Atkins a two-time All-Star, she’s also a WNBA Champion. Her excellent play for the Washington Mystics has made Atkins one of the highest-paid WNBA players in 2024.
19. Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
- Kelsey Plum contract: Two years, $400,000
- Kelsey Plum salary: $200,000
One of the WNBA’s top scorers, Kelsey Plum is one of the most popular players in the game. She’s earned her status by becoming a two-time WNBA Champion, making two All-Star appearances, and taking home All-Star MVP honors, most recently in 2022.
18. DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun
- DeWanna Bonner contract: One year, $200,000
- DeWanna Bonner salary: $200,000
Bonner was one of three players who agreed to a then-record-breaking $899K contract in 2020. But Bonner’s since made two All-Star games, showing she’s been well worth the investment.
17. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- A’ja Wilson contract: Two years, $400,000
- A’ja Wilson salary: $200,000
A two-time WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson is one of the most recognizable women’s basketball players today. Selecting Wilson No. 1 overall has quickly paid off for the Las Vegas Aces, helping them win the WNBA Championship in 2022 and 2023. There’s only been one year when Wilson hasn’t been an All-Star.
16. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
- Nneka Ogwumike contract: One year, $204,500
- Nneka Ogwumike salary: $204,500
Not only is Nneka Ogwumike one of the WNBA’s highest-paid athletes, she shares the unique distinction of hailing from the same hometown as NBA star Jimmy Butler (Tomball, Texas).
15. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
- Breanna Stewart contract: One year, $205,000
- Breanna Stewart salary: $205,000
A two-time WNBA MVP, Breanna Stewart is something of a legend in women’s basketball. The five-time All-Star and two-time league champion has more than lived up to her status as a former No. 1 overall pick.
14. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
- Sabrina Ionescu contract: Two years, $410,060
- Sabrina Ionescu salary: $205,030
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft has quickly taken the league by storm, making a name for herself as one of the greatest shooters in basketball. Ionescu’s performance in the 3-Point Contest alone showed she’s still underpaid.
Related: Sabrina Ionescu puts up greatest 3-point shooting performance of all-time
13. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
- Kelsey Mitchell contract: Three years, $618,000
- Kelsey Mitchell salary: $206,000
Even though the Fever have yet to make the playoffs since she joined the team in 2018, Mitchell has developed into one of the game’s greatest stars today. She’s steadily improved each season and even made an All-Star appearance in 2023.
12. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
- Kayla McBride contract: Two years, $413,000
- Kayla McBride salary: $206,500
Even though she hasn’t made an All-Star game since 2019, McBride is still an extremely productive player for the Minnesota Lynx. Her presence is felt on both ends of the floor, scoring and swiping steals at a high clip.
11. Marina Mabrey, Chicago Sky
- Marina Mabrey contract: Three years, $620,000
- Marina Mabrey salary: $206,667
Despite entering the WNBA as a second-round pick and playing for four different organizations, Mabrey has become one of the top earners in the sport. Her ability to sink shots from long distance makes her a valuable piece to any team.
Ten highest-paid WNBA players today
10. Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
- Alyssa Thomas contract: Four years, $836,000
- Alyssa Thomas salary: $209,000
Since landing with the Connecticut Sun following a trade involving draft picks, Alyssa Thomas has never had to play for another organization. But seeing as though she’s one of the highest-paid players in the sport, why should she play anywhere else?
9. Skylar Diggins-Smith, Seattle Storm
- Skylar Diggins-Smith contract: Two years, $422,685
- Skylar Diggins-Smith salary: $211,343
Signed to the richest deal in WNBA history back in 2020, Diggins-Smith is no longer the highest-paid player in women’s basketball. But the six-time All-Star is still playing at a high level and has landed yet another huge contract.
8. Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun
- Brionna Jones contract: One year, $212,000
- Brionna Jones salary: $212,000
Beginning her career by coming off the bench, Brionna Jones has developed into a two-time All-Star with the Sun. Now, she’s one of the WNBA’s highest-paid players today.
7. Erica Wheeler, Indiana Fever
- Erica Wheeler contract: Two years, $444,308
- Erica Wheeler salary: $222,154
Going on her eighth season, Wheeler has spent time with four different organizations after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. She’s not a top scorer, but she clearly has talent. Becoming the first undrafted player to take home All-Star MVP honors, Wheeler has developed into a household name.
6. Natasha Howard, Dallas Wings
- Natasha Howard contract: Four years, $898,700
- Natasha Howard salary: $224,675
There’s really only one way to describe Natasha Howard, and that’s as a winner. She’s won three WNBA championships, one in Minnesota and two in Seattle. She’s also one of women’s basketball’s highest-paid athletes.
Related: WNBA games today: Full WNBA schedule, tip-off times and broadcast information
5. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
- Diana Taurasi contract: Two years, $469,872
- Diana Taurasi salary: $234,936
On track for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Taurasi’s career accomplishments alone should earn her a place near the top of any highest-paid players list. A ten-time All-Star, it’s no surprise to see the Phoenix Mercury’s most loyal athlete as one of the WNBA’s top earners.
4. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
- Arike Ogunbowale contract: Three years, $725,952
- Arike Ogunbowale salary: $241,984
Technically, Arike Ogunbowale and two others have the highest base salary in the WNBA in 2024. A three-time All-Star, not only is Ogunbowale one of the most well-known stars in the league, she’s also the WNBA’s second-highest-paid player in average annual value. Still just 27, Ogunbowale’s on track to remain on this list for several years to come.
3. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
- Kahleah Copper contract: Two years, $490,118
- Kahleah Copper salary: $245,059
Copper spent her first four seasons as a backup, but once she got her opportunity to start with the Chicago Sky in 2020, she hasn’t looked back. Copper has since become a three-time All-Star and now has one of the top salaries in the WNBA.
Related: 25 highest paid NBA players: See how the salaries compare
2. Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
- Jewell Loyd contract: Two years, $491,016
- Jewell Loyd salary: $245,508
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 WNBA Draft has since become a two-time champion with the Seattle Storm. Loyd is one of the league’s best scorers and, as you can see, one of the WNBA’s top earners in 2024. In September of 2023, Loyd signed a two-year supermax agreement keeping her in Seattle through 2026.
1. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (highest-paid WNBA player)
- Jackie Young contract: Two years, $504,900
- Jackie Young salary: $252,450 per year
Not only is she the league’s top earner in WNBA, Young is the highest-paid WNBA player ever. But after helping the Las Vegas Aces win the WNBA Finals in 2020, who’s to say she’s not worth every penny and then some?
How much does Caitlin Clark make?
Caitlin Clark has declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she became the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever. But she’s already making money while playing college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Clark is estimated to be making $910,000 thanks to her Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in 2024. Once she joins the WNBA as a top draft pick, she’ll be eligible to sign a three-year, $240,474 contract that also includes a $97K team option for 2027-28. She’ll earn a first-year salary of $76K and won’t be eligible to sign a new extension until 2027.
As you can see, it will take her a while to land on this list of highest-paid WNBA players simply due to league rules and regulations. But she has received other offers to make more money playing basketball elsewhere.
Related: Caitlin Clark is a closet Minnesota Lynx fan
Brittney Griner net worth
- Brittney Griner contract: One year, $165,100
- Brittney Griner salary: $165,100
- Brittney Griner net worth: $5 million
Brittney Griner is far from being the WNBA’s highest-paid player. Despite being well-known on and off the court, she ranks 35th in the league in earnings this season. However, Griner’s five million dollar net worth indicates she’s still done quite well for herself.
WNBA salaries
As of 2023, the average WNBA salary is $147,745. The most a WNBA player can earn is $234,936 for one season. The WNBA league minimum is $64,000.
But WNBA salaries have slowly been on the rise. In 2022 the max salary was $228,094. In 2021, the max was $190,550. A new collective bargaining agreement in January 2020 helped boost WNBA salaries, where each max and supermax player will receive an annual salary bump of three percent.
WNBA salary vs. NBA
The salary cap for an entire WNBA team is $1,463,200. This is spread between 11 or 12 players and is considerably less than the average NBA salary, which is $9.7 million per player. Meanwhile, the NBA salary cap for each team is $136.021 million.