
The No. 1 overall pick will earn $500,000, while the second and third picks will make $466,913 and $436,016, respectively.
The top pick will earn nearly seven times more than Paige Bueckers did last season.
The new CBA increases rookie salaries and provides additional benefits, amenities, and opportunities for new players entering the league.
The new WNBA collective bargaining agreement significantly increases rookie salaries, with the No. 1 overall pick set to earn $500,000 in their first year. The second and third picks will earn $466,913 and $436,016, respectively, marking a substantial rise from previous seasons.
NEW YORK (AP) â Some high-profile members of the upcoming 2026 WNBA draft class went to dinner Friday night with a few veteran players including Nneka Ogwumike and Tina Charles. It was a chance to gain some knowledge as the rookies get set to embark on their new journey Monday night when their names are called in the draft. âI wish I had brought a notebook,â UConn grad Azzi Fudd said at a pre-draft availability Saturday. âTaking all these notes, like theyâre giving such good information, such good advice. Itâs like information overload.â Ogwumike, who is president of the players' union, talked to them a bit about the new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified last month and will greatly increase the new rookies salaries. The top pick on Monday night will earn $500,000 her first year with the second and third picks making $466,913 and $436,016. Whoever is chosen first will make nearly seven times as much as Paige Bueckers did last season as the No. 1 choice. Second and third-round picks will make $270,000 â which is more than the previous maximum salary in the old CBA. âI mean itâs insane. Itâs huge. Itâs life-changing. What they were able to negotiate. and itâs not just the money, but itâs everything,â Fudd said. âI feel like Iâm not fully aware of all of the changes that theyâve made yet.â Fudd said she was aware of the new CBA negotiations, but was focused on the end of her college career with the NCAA Tournament. âYou hear that these negotiations are happening and how big of a difference itâs going to make, but when you can hear that first-hand it kind of gave me goosebumps last night listening to just how driven they were, how inspired they were to make that change," Fudd said. Kiki Rice will be one of five UCLA players in attendance at the draft. The group is fresh off winning the first NCAA championship in school history. She also said she learned a lot from the veterans at dinner. The union put a few of them at every table. Rice was proud for what the union leadership accomplished. âItâs huge. It means a lot just because I know that so many people have paved the way and now, we know our draft really gets to have so many great benefits and a lot of really cool opportunities and amenities and salary,â Rice said. âReally excited for that. Grateful for all the work they put into, you know, to get us to this point and excited to continue to pay that forward.â \\\_ AP WNBA:
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