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How much do WNBA rookies make? What to know about 2026 contracts and salaries for every draft pick
TL;DR
WNBA rookies in 2026 will earn significantly higher salaries due to a new collective bargaining agreement. The contracts for the upcoming draft class are expected to be much larger compared to previous seasons.
How much do WNBA rookies make? What to know about 2026 contracts and salaries for every draft pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
WNBA salaries have taken on increasingly glitzier dispositions in the weeks following the announcement of a new collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and its players unions. In 2026 and beyond, players will command contracts exponentially larger than was the case in prior seasons.
The windfall has taken hold of rookie deals, as well. The 2026 class of newcomers is slated to take home a king's ransom of sorts in the coming few seasons -- especially when compared to past rookie scale contracts.
Azzi Fudd traipsed onto the stage first during the 2026 WNBA Draft, beaming as she grasped a Wings jersey for the first time. She had plenty of reason to smile; not only is she joining longtime teammate and partner Paige Bueckers in Dallas. But she'll make a decent wage doing so.
With that, here's what you need to know about the WNBA's rookie contracts in 2026.
MORE:Lynx, Storm make out like bandits while Sky stun with Gabriela Jaquez pick in WNBA Draft grades
Are all WNBA rookies paid the same amount?
No, WNBA rookies are not all paid the same. Salaries are determined based on draft slot, with the first pick commanding the highest payday. In 2026, that figure sits at $500,000.
Fudd will take home $2.24 million over the course of her four-year contract, per Spotrac. Olivia Miles, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, will collect about $467,000 in her first season and $2.1 million by the end of her rookie deal. According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, the average of salaries will sit at $386,000 in 2026, more than five times greater than the $75,000 figure that was touted last year.
Contract hits a flat rate for first-rounders after pick No. 10, with the final six picks of the first round landing first-year salaries of $289,133. Second- and third-round picks, meanwhile, will take home identical $270,000 paychecks in their first years, although many will fail to make their desired rosters.
All of that is to say that this year's class of WNBA rookies will be rolling in the dough compared to their predecessors.
MORE:How Azzi Fudd fits with Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale in Wings starting five
With that, here's a look at the rookie scale for first-round picks in 2026, as provided by Spotrac:
| Pick | Player | First-year salary | Total contract value |
| 1 | Azzi Fudd | $500,000 | $2,238,360 |
| 2 | Olivia Miles | $466,913 | $2,090,240 |
| 3 | Awa Fam | $436,016 | $1,951,923 |
| 4 | Lauren Betts | $407,163 | $1,822,756 |
| 5 | Gabriela Jaquez | $380,219 | $1,702,135 |
| 6 | Kiki Rice | $355,058 | $1,589,494 |
| 7 | Iyana Martin | $331,563 | $1,484,317 |
| 8 | Flau'jae Johnson | $309,622 | $1,386,092 |
What is the average salary for a WNBA player?
According to The Athletic, the average for a WNBA players sits at around $600,000 following the signing of the new CBA.
For comparison, WNBA players made a little over $100,000 on average in 2025. Talk about a pay raise. And those figures are only slated to keep on climbing, thanks in large part to the efforts of the WNBA's player union.
Q&A
What are the expected salaries for WNBA rookies in 2026?
WNBA rookies in 2026 are expected to earn significantly higher salaries due to a new collective bargaining agreement, although specific figures are not detailed.
How has the WNBA salary structure changed after the new collective bargaining agreement?
The new collective bargaining agreement has led to exponentially larger contracts for players, including rookies, compared to previous seasons.
Who are the notable rookies in the 2026 WNBA Draft?
Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers are notable rookies in the 2026 WNBA Draft, with Fudd being the first to be selected.
What impact will the 2026 rookie contracts have on the WNBA?
The larger rookie contracts in 2026 are expected to enhance the league's appeal and competitiveness, attracting more talent and increasing overall player earnings.
