The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) salaries have come under scrutiny after Caitlin Clark’s annual salary went public. The rookie, who brings significant interest to the sport, will earn $76,535 in her first season and $338,056 over the next four years. This is a drop in the ocean compared to the NBA’s 2023 number-one draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s $55 million four-year deal.
This reflects the pay disparity between the WNBA and the NBA, but the good news is the increased visibility, attendance and viewership could lead to more investment. Currently, WNBA salaries don’t even reach the $1 million mark. So, who are the highest earners in the league?
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Player | WNBA Salaries |
1. Jackie Young | $252,450 |
2. Jewell Loyd | $245,508 |
3. Kahleah Copper | $245,059 |
4. Arike Ogunbowale | $241,984 |
5. Natasha Howard | $224,675 |
6. Erica Wheeler | $222,154 |
7. Brionna Jones | $212,000 |
8. Skylar Diggins-Smith | $211,343 |
9. Alyssa Thomas | $209,000 |
10. Kelsey Mitchell | $206,000 |
1. Jackie Young
The Las Vegas Aces player receives the highest WNBA salary in the league, pocketing $252,450 every season. Young joined the league in 2019 after the Aces drafted her as a first-round number 1 pick and has enjoyed a lot of success already. She is a two-time WNBA champion, a three-time WNBA All-Star, and was on the WNBA Rookie Team in 2019. Internationally, Young is an Olympic gold medalist and part of Team USA Paris 2024 Olympics team.
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2. Jewell Loyd
Loyd makes $245,508 and ranks second on the WNBA salaries list. The point and shooting guard was the Seattle Storm’s first-round, first-pick in the 2015 draft. Lloyd led the team to two WNBA titles, was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2015, the 2023 Scoring Leader and a six-time WNBA All-Star player.
The player has replicated her success with the USA team. She has won multiple gold medals at the 2014 World Championship, 2010 U17 World Championship in France, 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the 2020 Tokyo Games. Lloyd is playing in her second Olympic tournament in Paris.
3. Kahleah Copper
Kahleah Cooper plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and is the league’s third-highest earner with $245,059. The shooting guard and small forward was the first-round, seventh pick for the Mercury in 2016. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and Finals MVP. Copper makes her Olympic debut in Paris.
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4. Arike Ogunbowale
America Fourth on the list of WNBA salaries is Arike Ogunbowale who makes $241,984. Arike was drafted as a first-round, fifth-overall pick by the Dallas Wings in 2019v from Notre Dame. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star, twice a WNBA All-Star Game MVP, and WNBA Scoring Champion. She has several honors playing for the USA team, including gold medals in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (3×3), the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup and the 2014 FIBA U17 World Cup.
5. Natasha Howard
Howard has played in the WNBA since 2015 after the Indiana Fever drafted her from Florida State. She represented the team for one season and then spent her time in Russia and Northern Cyprus before returning to the W. Other teams she had featured for include the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, the New York Liberty and now the Dallas Wings. Howard earns $224,675 per season, making her the sixth-higher WNBA earner.
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6. Erica Wheeler
Playing for the Indiana Fever, Erica is one of the older players in the league. Throughout the years, her value in the league has gone up and today earns, around $222,154 yearly. The point and shooting guard began her basketball career in a Puerto Rican team named the Leonas de Ponce, after she was undrafted in 2013. Atlanta Dream was her first WNBA team and has since played for the New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks and now Fever.
7. Brionna Jones
Jones makes $212,000 annually. She was a first-round, eighth-pick for the Connecticut Sun from Maryland. In 2022, she was the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, a three-time WNBA All-Star and the 2021 WNBA Most Improved Player.
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8. Skylar Diggins-Smith
Skylar has a long list of achievements in her basketball career. In the WNBA, she is a six-time WNBA All-Star, a four-time WNBA All-First Team and twice won the Lieberman Award. Such recognition justifies her compensation of around $211,343. The point guard is also an Olympian having won a gold medal with the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
9. Alyssa Thomas
Thomas is the 10th highest-paid WNBA player, with a salary of $209,000. She plays for the Connecticut Sun, which drafted her in 2014. The player has earned a lot of recognition, having been named to the All-WNBA First Team, WNBA All-Rookie Team and WNBA Steals Leader.
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10. Kelsey Mitchell
Kesley Mitchell wraps our list of WNBA salaries. She bags around $206,000 every year, playing for the Indiana Fever. She was the first-round, second-overall pick and has gained recognition in various categories. Mitchell is a two-time WNBA All-Star, was in the 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team, and won the Dawn Staley Award and Sawn Staley Leadership Award.
Conclusion
These players have the highest WNBA salaries in 2024. Some have represented the United States and others still have time to prove they are worth being included in the team. That said, the pay scale of WNBA players is an ongoing debate, considering the riches of the NBA. The players have a chance to opt out of their collective bargaining agreements, which runs until 2027, before November 1, 2024. What should be done to raise the salaries of players?
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