Who Is The Highest Paid WNBA Player? Unpacking Star Salaries In 2025

Valentine Luettgen 29 Jul 2025

The WNBA, it's pretty clear, is really picking up steam, and you know, the money women players are making is, in a way, shooting up at light speed. It's truly exciting to see, especially for fans who've been following the league for a while. We're talking about a time where these athletes are getting more recognition, and frankly, their paychecks are starting to reflect that growing interest. It's a very big moment for women's professional sports, and that's just a fact.

So, you might be wondering, with all this talk about growth, who exactly is at the very top of the earnings list? We're going to take a closer look at the highest paid WNBA players for the 2025 season, and we'll even touch on some of the other big names making a significant impact. It's almost like a peek behind the curtain to see how these numbers stack up for the league's brightest stars, and that's pretty cool.

This whole conversation, too it's almost, comes at a time when the league is really pushing hard for pay equity. There's a lot of talk about fairness and making sure these incredibly talented women are compensated in a way that truly shows their value. We'll be exploring the financial landscape, seeing which players are bringing home the most this season, and, you know, just how those figures compare to other sports, which is quite interesting.

Introduction to WNBA Salaries
Who's Earning the Most? The Top Players
Understanding WNBA Player Earnings
Looking at Other Top WNBA Players
Frequently Asked Questions About WNBA Salaries

Introduction to WNBA Salaries

The WNBA, as a matter of fact, is gaining a lot of ground in terms of popularity. You see it everywhere, from social media to sports broadcasts, and that growing interest is starting to have a real effect on player salaries. For a while, perhaps, the financial side of women's basketball didn't quite match the talent on the court, but that's changing, and it's a good thing, really.

We're talking about a significant shift, where the money these women are earning is, in a way, increasing at a truly impressive pace. It's not just a small bump; it's a noticeable upward trend that reflects the league's rising profile. This article, you know, aims to give you a clear picture of who the highest paid WNBA players are right now, especially as we look at the 2025 season.

Our goal here is to highlight the game's biggest stars in women's basketball and show you just who is the top earner. We'll be listing some of the top salaries, looking at contract values, and, you know, basically giving you a good sense of the financial landscape for active WNBA players. It's all about understanding where the money is going and why, which is quite interesting.

Who's Earning the Most? The Top Players

When we talk about who's pulling in the most money in the WNBA, a couple of names really stand out, especially as we consider the 2025 season. It's not always just about the base salary for one particular year; sometimes, it's about the overall value of a player's contract over several seasons. So, you know, we'll look at both aspects to give you a full picture, which is pretty helpful.

The league, as I was saying, is really pushing for pay equity, and that means more attention is being paid to how much these athletes are earning. It's a good sign for the future, and it shows that the WNBA is committed to valuing its players. This focus on earnings helps us see which stars are truly at the top of the financial heap right now, and that's something fans care about, obviously.

Kelsey Mitchell: A Top Earner for 2025

For the 2025 season, it's Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever who has reportedly taken home the highest salary in the WNBA. This is a pretty big deal, you know, highlighting her value to her team and the league as a whole. Her skill on the court has certainly translated into a significant financial reward, and that's something to celebrate, really.

Mitchell's base salary for this season is set at $249,244. That's a very substantial amount, and it places her right at the very top for individual player earnings in 2025. It shows, in a way, just how much the league and her team value her contributions. This figure, you know, represents a high point for player salaries, reflecting the league's ongoing growth, which is something to think about.

Jackie Young: Leading in Contract Value

While Kelsey Mitchell might have the highest base salary for 2025, Aces guard Jackie Young, as a matter of fact, leads the way when it comes to the annual value of contracts across all WNBA players. Her deal is structured to pay her an average of $252,420 per season. This indicates a long-term commitment and a very high valuation of her talent over multiple years, which is quite impressive.

Jackie Young, you know, was drafted back in 2019, and she's been a key player for the Las Vegas Aces. She reportedly came into the 2024 season with a salary of $252,450. This figure, you know, is slightly higher than Mitchell's 2025 base salary, suggesting that while Mitchell has the highest *single-season* salary for 2025, Young's *contract average* or perhaps her 2024 salary put her consistently at the very top of the earnings list. It's a subtle difference, but an important one, really.

At the top of the list of the highest paid WNBA players, Jackie Young's name definitely comes up. Her consistent high earnings and significant contract value make her a standout in the league's financial discussions. She's a shooting guard for the Las Vegas Aces, and her performance on the court clearly justifies her impressive earnings, which is something to admire, basically.

Jackie Young: Personal Details

Full Name	Jackie Young
Team (2025)	Las Vegas Aces
Position	Shooting Guard
Draft Year	2019
Reported 2024 Salary	$252,450
Average Annual Contract Value	$252,420 per season

Understanding WNBA Player Earnings

Getting a grip on WNBA player earnings is, you know, a bit more involved than just looking at one player's salary. There are various factors at play, from team salary caps to how players make money off the court. It's a whole system, really, that determines how much these athletes can earn, and that's something worth exploring, definitely.

The league's financial structure, in some respects, is constantly evolving, with a clear push for better pay for its stars. This means that understanding the maximums, the averages, and the different income streams is pretty key to seeing the full picture of player wealth. It's not just about what they get paid to play; it's about their overall financial standing, which is quite complex, actually.

Salary Cap and Maximums

Despite the WNBA's rising popularity, the salary cap for the league remains, you know, rather modest, especially when you compare it to the NBA. For the 2024 season, the WNBA's team salary cap stood at $1.42 million per team. That's the total amount a team can spend on all its players' salaries combined, which is a fairly strict limit.

The maximum salary a single player can earn in the WNBA is $252,450. This figure is, in a way, a cap on individual earnings, regardless of how valuable a player might be to their team. It means that even the very best players hit a ceiling, which is a little different from other sports leagues, perhaps. This maximum, you know, shapes the top end of player salaries quite significantly, and that's just how it is.

It's important to remember that these figures are set by the collective bargaining agreement, and they are part of the league's structure. While there's a lot of talk about increasing these numbers, for now, they dictate the upper limits of what WNBA players can make directly from their contracts. This cap, you know, influences how teams build their rosters and how much individual players can command, which is pretty interesting.

Off-Court Income and Net Worth

When we talk about who the richest WNBA player is, it's not just about their playing salary; it's also about their net worth and income sources off the court. Many WNBA stars, you know, supplement their league earnings with endorsement deals, sponsorships, media appearances, and even their own businesses. This is a very big part of their overall financial picture, honestly.

These off-court ventures can, in a way, significantly boost a player's total income and net worth, sometimes even surpassing their playing salary. For example, popular culture often highlights the highest paid WNBA players in 2025, but a lot of their true wealth comes from these outside opportunities. It's where many players truly build their financial security and brand, which is pretty smart, really.

This article aims to look at players with the highest net worth and their income sources off the court, because that's where a lot of the money comes from for some of the biggest names. It's a different kind of earning, you know, but it's just as important for understanding how much money these women truly make. You can scroll all the way to the bottom for more information on WNBA salaries, including how much money Caitlin Clark makes, which is something a lot of people are curious about, obviously.

Comparing WNBA and NBA Salaries

To put WNBA salaries into perspective, it's pretty common to compare them to what players make in the NBA. The difference is, in a way, quite stark. For example, the maximum salary a WNBA player can earn, which is $252,450, is just a fraction of what top NBA players make. It's a really noticeable gap, and that's something that gets discussed a lot, actually.

In comparison, the highest paid player in the NBA is Steph Curry, with an annual salary of $51.9 million. This figure, you know, really highlights the vast disparity between the two leagues in terms of player compensation. It shows, in some respects, the significant financial hurdles that women's basketball still faces, despite its growth. This difference is, you know, a key part of the ongoing conversation about pay equity in sports, and that's a very serious topic.

This comparison isn't meant to diminish the achievements of WNBA players or the league's progress, but rather to illustrate the current financial landscape. It helps us understand, you know, just how much money women's basketball players make in the context of professional sports as a whole. It's a pretty clear picture, honestly, of where things stand right now.

Looking at Other Top WNBA Players

Beyond Kelsey Mitchell and Jackie Young, there are, you know, several other WNBA stars who command significant salaries and are considered among the league's top earners. The league's top 10 contracts this year, in terms of base salary, are above $214,400. That's a slight increase from 2024's ranking, which shows a positive trend, really.

This group includes players like the Wings' Ogunbowale and the Las Vegas Aces' Jewell. While specific salary figures for every player aren't always publicly detailed in the same way, these names are consistently mentioned among the highest paid. They are, you know, truly valuable assets to their teams, and their earnings reflect that impact on the court, which is pretty clear.

For 2024, for instance, names like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart were also prominent on lists of high earners. These players, you know, have long careers and have consistently been at the top of their game, which often translates into better contracts. Seeing how much every WNBA player makes per year, plus a look at which teams are the biggest spenders in 2025, gives us a comprehensive view of the league's financial dynamics. You can learn more about WNBA salaries on our site, and also check out this page for details on player contracts, which is quite helpful.

The WNBA's growth means that more players are seeing their salaries climb, even if the overall cap remains a point of discussion. It's a positive direction for the league, and it means that the talent on display is being recognized with increasingly competitive compensation. This push for higher earnings, you know, is a big part of the league's future, and that's something to watch, definitely.

To get more details on specific player earnings and contract breakdowns, you can often find information by checking official WNBA records or reputable sports financial publications. These sources, you know, often list the top salaries, cap hits, cash earnings, contracts, and bonuses for all active WNBA players, giving you a very comprehensive look at the financial side of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions About WNBA Salaries

How much do WNBA players make?

WNBA player salaries vary quite a bit, but for the 2025 season, the highest base salary is around $249,244 for Kelsey Mitchell. Other top players, like Jackie Young, have average annual contract values around $252,420. The maximum salary a player can earn is $252,450. Many players, you know, also make money from off-court endorsements and sponsorships, which can really add to their total income, as a matter of fact.

What is the WNBA salary cap?

For the 2024 season, the WNBA's team salary cap was set at $1.42 million per team. This means that each team can spend a total of $1.42 million on all its players' salaries combined. This cap, you know, is a significant factor in how teams manage their rosters and player contracts, and that's pretty important, really.

Who are some other high-earning WNBA players?

Besides Kelsey Mitchell and Jackie Young, other high-earning WNBA players include those whose base salaries are above $214,400, such as the Wings' Ogunbowale and the Las Vegas Aces' Jewell (Jewell Loyd). Historically, players like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart have also been among the top earners, reflecting their long-standing success and impact in the league. It's a pretty strong group of athletes, honestly.

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