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 2025. Scroll all the way to the bottom for more information on WNBA salaries, including how much money Caitlin Clark makes.
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, Jackie Young is the highest-paid WNBA player ever. But after helping the Las Vegas Aces win the WNBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, who’s to say she’s not worth every penny and then some?
2. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
- Kelsey Mitchell contract: One year, $249.244
- Kelsey Mitchell salary: $249,244
Mitchell has developed into one of the game’s greatest stars today, earning back-to-back trips to the All-Star game while helping lead the Fever to the playoffs in 2024. Still just 29, Mitchell is in her prime.
3. Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces
- 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 2025. In September of 2023, Loyd signed a two-year supermax contract, but now she’s rolling with the Aces after a blockbuster trade.
4. 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 four-time All-Star and now has one of the top salaries in the WNBA.
5. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
- Arike Ogunbowale contract: Three years, $725,952
- Arike Ogunbowale salary: $241,984
A four-time All-Star, not only is Ogunbowale one of the most well-known stars in the league, she’s also the WNBA’s fifth-highest-paid player in average annual value. Still just 28, Ogunbowale’s on track to remain on this list for several years to come.
6. Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
- Gabby Williams contract: One year, $225,000
- Gabby Williams salary: $225,000
Known more for her defensive acumen, Gabby Williams has earned every penny of her paycheck, becoming a defensive stopper for the Chicago Sky for the first three years of her career. Now, Williams can be found causing chaos defensively for the Seattle Storm.
7. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
- Satou Sabally contract: One year, $215,000
- Satou Sabally salary: $215,000
Ever since arriving as the second overall pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft, Satou Sabally has been a star player. The left-handed scorer has since become a two-time All-Star and even earned All-WNBA honors in 2023.
8. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
- Alyssa Thomas contract: One year, $215,000
- Alyssa Thomas salary: $215,000
A six-time member of the All-Defensive team and a five-time All-Star, Alyssa Thomas will go down as one of the best players in the Connecticut Sun’s history. Though, now she’s closing out her career with the Phoenix Mercury.
9. Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever
- Natasha Howard contract: One year, $214,666
- Natasha Howard salary: $214,666
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.
Ten highest-paid WNBA players today
10. Brittney Griner, Atlanta Dream
- Brittney Griner contract: One year, $214,466
- Brittney Griner salary: $214,466
Brittney Griner has had an interesting career mired by a lengthy off-court controversy overseas. However, she’s known for being one of the best women’s basketball players of our era, racking up nine All-Star appearances, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and earning All-Defensive honors seven times.
Related: WNBA games today: Full WNBA schedule, tip-off times and broadcast information
11. Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream
- Brionna Jones contract: One year, $214,466
- Brionna Jones salary: $214,466
Beginning her career by coming off the bench, Brionna Jones has developed into a three-time All-Star with the Sun. Now, she’s one of the WNBA’s highest-paid players today.
12. 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.
13. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
- Breanna Stewart contract: One year, $208,400
- Breanna Stewart salary: $208,400
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. Marina Mabrey, Connecticut Sun
- 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.
15. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
- Kayla McBride contract: Two years, $413,000
- Kayla McBride salary: $206,500
After a four-year lapse, McBride returned to All-Star status for the fourth time in 2024, proving she’s 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.
16. 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.
17. Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty
- Natasha Cloud contract: Two years, $400,000
- Natasha Cloud salary: $200,000
A three-time member of the All-Defensive team and one-time WNBA Champion, Cloud is now closing out her career on her third WNBA team, but she’s still one of the top earners in women’s basketball.
18. Ariel Atkins, Chicago Sky
- 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 2025.
19. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- A’ja Wilson contract: Two years, $400,000
- A’ja Wilson salary: $200,000
A three-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.
20. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
- Chelsea Gray contract: Two years, $392,534
- Chelsea Gray salary: $196,267
The ‘Point Gawd’ Chelsea Gray is a three-time WNBA Champion with six All-Star appearances to her name. She’s also earned All-NBA honors three times, making a mark as one of the WNBA’s elite guards.
Related: 25 highest paid NBA players: See how the salaries compare
How much does Caitlin Clark make?
Caitlin Clark was the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. But she’s far and away from being one of WNBA’s highest-paid players.
Now that she’s joined the WNBA as a top draft pick, Clark is playing on a three-year, $240,474 contract that also includes a $97K team option for 2027-28. She’ll earn a second-year salary of $78K 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 net worth: $5 million
Brittney Griner is no longer in the conversation to become the WNBA’s highest-paid player. However, Griner’s five million dollar net worth indicates she’s still done quite well for herself.
WNBA salaries
As of 2025, the average WNBA salary is $147,745. The most a WNBA player can earn is $249,244 for one season. The WNBA league minimum is $66,079.
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 $1,507,100. This is spread between 11 or 12 players and is considerably less than the average NBA salary, which is $11.9 million per player. Meanwhile, the NBA salary cap for each team is $154.6 million.
