With players being paid not only for what they do but also for loyalty and longevity in the WNBA, perhaps the most valuable weapon any team possesses is the supermax contract, officially the Designated Veteran Player Extension. It is the maximum salary level offered under the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at the time.
Unlike a standard maximum deal, the supermax allows franchises to retain star players on a luxury salary—yet also impacts roster-construction plans due to its extreme impact on the salary cap. Here are a few rules set by the league for the players’ eligibility, including the rookie stars and core designated players, for the supermax contract.
How Do Players Qualify for a WNBA Supermax Contract?
To be eligible for a supermax deal, players must meet specific eligibility rules based on experience and team continuity. Thus, to better understand, we will check the criteria and rules for each category, including rookies, veterans, and core players.
Rookie-scale players can sign an extension, effective in their fifth year. This extension could be for three years, between years five and seven. Once she clears the criteria, she becomes supermax eligible. Players with five years of WNBA experience who reach unrestricted free agency and re-sign with their former team can also receive a supermax. The cutoff previously was six years, but now, under the 2020 CBA rule, it is five.
These are core players, who the club views as the focal point of its plans. Teams can designate a player a “core” player, like a franchise tag, which secures them exclusive negotiating rights. Being so designated, even if the player fails the service-year threshold, makes him eligible for a supermax contract.
So, how much does it cost the franchise to sign a supermax contract? As of 2025, the team’s salary cap is around $1,507,100, and the supermax contract takes up over 16% of the team’s cap. The average max salary for 2025 is $214,466, and the supermax is $249,244.
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Which WNBA Stars Have Signed Supermax Contracts?
Below is a list of some of the stars who have signed or still have supermax contracts:
2025 Supermax Players
According to a breakdown of the 2025 season, the following players received the supermax salary (approximately $252,450/annually)
- A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
- Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
- Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun)
Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever) is the core player who becomes eligible for the supermax contract. According to the core player establishment rule, she has sole negotiating rights and a supermax-guaranteed offer of ~$249,000.
Supermax stars such as Kahleah Copper, Arike Ogunbowale, and Jewell Loyd earned contracts of $241,984 each in 2024.
Other veteran players, including Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike, and Satou Sabally, were willing to accept supermax or equivalent offers in the off-season.
Players Who Refused The WNBA Supermax Contract
Although the Supermax contract is exclusive and grants players financial security, some stars did not take it, particularly to play for other teams.
Breanna Stewart rejected Seattle’s foundational supermax offer in 2023 and joined the New York Liberty for under maximum. Satou Sabally also joined the Phoenix Mercury without taking the supermax contract.
These instances point out that while the supermax may be a privilege, it also limits a player’s liberty—especially when tied to core designation—forcing the player to take a one-year max pay or perhaps hold out or negotiate complex sign-and-trades.
The WNBA’s supermax is the most expensive reward system in the league as of the 2020 CBA. It is designed to reward longevity, greatness, and dedication. However, it will be open to evolving examination in the upcoming CBAs.