A’ja Wilson’s record contract still feels too small: 5 reasons Aces star remains underpaid

A’ja Wilson’s record contract still feels too small: 5 reasons Aces star remains underpaid originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A'ja Wilson just signed the richest deal in WNBA history, a three-year, $5 million supermax to stay with the Las Vegas Aces. It’s a milestone for the league. It also doesn’t feel like enough.

Wilson is the first four-time MVP in league history. She’s a three-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP and one of the most dominant two-way players the sport has ever seen. When someone with that résumé signs the biggest deal ever and the reaction is still “she should be making more,” that tells you everything.

Here are five reasons why Wilson is still underpaid, even after resetting the market.

1. The system still limits what she can earn

The biggest issue isn’t the contract itself , it’s the structure around it. The WNBA has a salary cap and a defined supermax. That means even the best player in the world can only make so much. Wilson didn’t negotiate her true value. She hit the ceiling that exists. In other words, this deal reflects the system’s limits more than her worth.

2. Her resume is already all-time great

Wilson isn’t just the best player right now, she’s building one of the best careers ever. She’s already done things no one else has. In 2025, she pulled off a season that included a scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP and a championship. That kind of dominance doesn’t just happen. Players with that level of impact usually redefine what “top salary” looks like. Wilson did that, but the number still doesn’t match the résumé.

3. She changes games without needing help

There are stars, and then there are players who control everything. Wilson is the kind of player who dictates both ends of the floor. She scores, rebounds, protects the rim, anchors a defense and carries an offense when needed. There’s no weakness to scheme against. That kind of complete control is rare. In most leagues, that type of player becomes the financial standard. In the WNBA, she’s still working within limits that don’t fully reflect that level of dominance.

4. Her impact goes beyond basketball

Wilson isn’t just producing on the court. She’s one of the faces of the league. From signature shoes to national recognition, she’s helping grow the WNBA’s visibility and reach. She’s part of why the league is gaining momentum, attention and relevance. When a player is driving both performance and growth, their value goes beyond stats. That’s another layer her contract can’t fully capture.

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5. “Highest paid ever” doesn’t mean properly paid

This is the part that stands out the most. Yes, this is the biggest contract in league history. That matters. But it also highlights how low that bar has been. If the best player of her generation, maybe the best player in league history,  signs a record deal and it still feels light, then the market hasn’t caught up yet.

Wilson didn’t just set a new standard. She exposed how far the standard still has to go.

The bigger picture

This deal is progress. There’s no way around that. The numbers are growing, and stars like Wilson are finally seeing that reflected more than ever before. But it’s also clear that the gap hasn’t closed.

Wilson is doing everything a player can possibly do at the highest level. She’s winning, dominating and leading the league forward at the same time. And even now, she’s still not being paid like it.

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