The WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday grabbed attention for a different reason after the players wore protest shirts to demand better pay from the league. This happened amid the rising tension between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) regarding the creation of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
It is not a secret that the WNBPA has been clamoring for higher salaries. With the steady rise of the WNBA over the years, the players feel strongly that they deserve more money, especially since the majority of them are not getting paid a lot.
How Do WNBA Players Earn Money In 2025?
Unfortunately, female athletes are still getting paid less than their male counterparts. The pay gap stands out even more in the WNBA, especially when compared to the eye-popping salaries in the NBA. Anyone can see the startling discrepancy—no math degree required.
Most players in the WNBA rely on their salaries as their main source of income. However, many contracts offer little, if any, financial security. The league and the WNBPA set salaries through a “standard player contract” outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. According to Sports Illustrated, on average, salaries range from a yearly minimum of $66,000 for rookies to a maximum of $250,000 for superstars. The average base is $102,249.
According to Front Office Sports, Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young is the highest-paid player in the WNBA at $252,450. Following her are Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell and Young’s teammate Jewell Loyd at $249,244 and $245,508, respectively. Rounding out the top five are Phoenix Mercury forward Kahleah Copper and Dallas Wings guard Arinke Ogunbowale.
Believe it or not, Fever star Caitlin Clark, for all her popularity and influence, only earned a little over $76,000 in her rookie year.
With the meager pay in the WNBA, some players are forced to leave their families in the offseason to play in different leagues abroad, where salaries are more competitive. Some also joined the newly formed Unrivaled 3-on-3 early this year to earn extra income.
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How Do Brand Endorsements Impact WNBA Players’ Net Worth?
Players also earn money through brand endorsement and product deals. But the reality is that only a handful of stars—Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, among others—can do so. For the larger population of the WNBA, those opportunities are hard to come by.
With all her commercial contracts, including with major brands like Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, and Panini America, Clark’s net worth in 2025 has increased to as much as $5 million. Her eight-year deal with Nike, worth $28 million, is already way bigger than most salaries in the WNBA.
Wilson has a similar situation with Clark. With all her endorsement contracts, including a signature shoe with Nike, her net worth is now estimated at $4 million, according to Sports Illustrated.
Salary Issue In The WNBA
The meager pay has been a long-standing issue in the WNBA, which reflects gender discrimination and social inequity. In addition, players only get 9.3% of the league’s revenue, according to Market Watch. That’s why it was not surprising that players wore the protest shirts saying “Pay us what you owe us” during the midseason showdown in Indianapolis.
The bold stunt drew mixed reactions. But for the players, that’s exactly what they wanted: To create noise and grab attention. It will be very interesting to see how the situation will play out in the coming days. Hopefully, the WNBA and the WNBPA can find a compromise to avoid having a lockout next season.
Also Read: WNBPA Delivers Strong Message To WNBA Over CBA Dispute After Hours-Long Meeting