WNBA players will see significant salary increases in 2026 due to a new CBA, with the salary cap rising from $1.5 million to $7 million. Stars like Azzi Fudd will earn $500,000 in her rookie season, increasing to over $645,000 by 2029.
How much do WNBA players make? Highest paid, average salary, rookie deals and more for 2026 after new CBA deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The WNBA made headlines during the league's offseason after a historic collective bargaining agreement. Players, both the league's stars and rookies, all saw an uptick in how much they would be earning for the upcoming season and beyond.
The salary cap was increased five times from the 2025 number ($1.5 million to $7 million), and three of the league's best players have already signed maximum $1.4 million extensions for the 2026 season.
Along with the established stardom in the WNBA, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd will enjoy earnings of $500,000 in her first season, and that number will continue to rise to north of $645,000 for the 2029 season on the final year of her rookie contract.
Here's how much some of the league's top players and rookies are making after the 2026 CBA deal.
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Napheesa Collier (MIN), (IND), and (LVA) are the highest-paid player in the WNBA this season, as they will earn $1.4 million in 2026, .
The highest salary for WNBA players in 2026 is $1.4 million, as signed by some of the league's top stars.
WNBA rookies, such as No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd, will earn $500,000 in their first season.
The average salary for WNBA players is expected to rise significantly, but specific average figures for 2026 have not been detailed.
The WNBA salary cap has increased from $1.5 million to $7 million due to the new collective bargaining agreement.
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Collier and Mitchell each signed one-year extensions this offseason to jointly become the highest-paid players in the WNBA. Wilson, on the other hand, signed a mega three-year, $5,000,000 that keeps her in Las Vegas until 2028. To date, Wilson will have sole ownership of the "highest-paid player" title next year, as she is slated to make $1.65 million in 2027 and $1.95 million in 2028.
The league saw an uptick in contractual finances under the new collective bargaining agreement that was discussed this offseason. Here are all the financial changes ahead of this year's WNBA season, according to the league website.
Following the WNBA's new CBA, the average salary for a WNBA player tallies up to around $600,000 this season, according to The Athletic.
When comparing that number to last year's number, WNBA players on average made just north of $100,000. The 500% increase is massive for the league, as they look to grow their exposure. The average for 2026 won't be frozen either. In future years, that number is projected to continuously rise with the increase in new talent and expansion teams, thanks to the efforts of the WNBA's player union.
After the league's new collective bargaining agreement, the payments for this year's draft class will look different compared to years prior.
Traditionally, in the first round, players picked at Nos. 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12, all made the same money in those four-pick groups. This season, those drafted in the first half of the opening round all have different deals descending in relation to when they were drafted. Azzi Fudd, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings, will make $500,000 in her first season. Lauren Betts, taken No. 4 overall, will make $407,163 for the 2026 season.
Those who were drafted Nos. 9-15 overall will all share a $289,133 sum for their rookie season of play. Players taken in the second and third rounds of this year's draft will each make $270,000 in their first season in the WNBA.
Here's a breakdown of how much this year's rookie class will earn each year on their contract based on where they were drafted, according to CBS Sports.
| Round | Picks | Years | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | $500,000 | $520,000 | $572,000 | $646,360 |
| 1 | 2 | 4 | $466,913 | $485,590 | $534,149 | $603,588 |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | $436,016 | $453,457 | $498,803 | $563,647 |
| 1 | 4 | 4 | $407,163 | $423,450 | $465,795 | $526,348 |
| 1 | 5 | 4 | $380,219 | $395,428 | $434,971 | $491,517 |
| 1 | 6 | 4 | $355,058 | $369,260 | $406,186 | $458,990 |
| 1 | 7 | 4 | $331,563 | $344,826 | $379,309 | $428,619 |
| 1 | 8 | 4 | $309,622 | $322,007 | $354,208 | $400,255 |
| 1 | 9-15 | 4 | $289,133 | $300,698 | $330,768 | $373,768 |
| 2 | 16-30 | 4 | $305,957 | $288,600 | $317,460 | $358,730 |
| 3 | 31-45 | 4 | $285,136 | $288,600 | $317,460 | $358,730 |
Here's a look at the 10 highest-paid players in 2026, per Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | 2026 contract |
| 1. | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota Lynx | $1,400,000 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Indiana Fever | $1,400,000 | |
| A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces | $1,400,000 | |
| 4. | Ezi Magbergo | Seattle Storm | $1,250,000 |
| 5. | Kahleah Copper | Phoenix Mercury | $1,200,000 |
| Marina Mabrey | Toronto Tempo | $1,200,000 | |
| Alyssa Thomas | Phoenix Mercury | $1,200,000 | |
| 8. | Shakira Austin | Washington Mystics | $1,190,000 |
| Bridget Carleton | Portland Fire | $1,190,000 | |
| Allisha Gray | Atlanta Dream | $1,190,000 | |
| Brittney Griner | Connecticut Sun | $1,190,000 | |
| Sabrina Ionescu | New York Liberty | $1,190,000 | |
| Jonquel Jones | New York Liberty | $1,190,000 | |
| Kayla McBride | Minnesota Lynx | $1,190,000 | |
| Arika Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings | $1,190,000 | |
| Alanna Smith | Dallas Wings | $1,190,000 | |
| Breanna Stewart | New York Liberty | $1,190,000 | |
| Brittney Sykes | Toronto Tempo | $1,190,000 | |
| Courtney Williams | Minnesota Lynx | $1,190,000 | |
| Gabby Williams | Golden State Valkyries | $1,190,000 | |
| Jackie Young | Las Vegas Aces | $1,190,000 |