WNBA Average Salary and Top Earnings: Comparison to NBA

The salary structure in professional basketball has long been a subject of curiosity, especially when comparing men’s and women’s salaries. While the NBA is known for its high salaries, WNBA players face a different financial reality. Despite the growth of women’s basketball, the average WNBA salary remains questionable.

CONTENTS

• What is the average WNBA salary?
• Frequently asked questions

The women’s league is a relatively new one, established on April 24, 1996, and operating since 1997. In this article, we will discuss the average WNBA salary, the highest earners, their income compared to the NBA and answer many important issues.

What is the average WNBA salary?

According to WSN, the average WNBA salary is approximately $116,800 per year. According to Statista, this is a slight increase from $116,580 in the 2023-24 season and even more than in previous seasons. According to NBC Connecticut, the average salary in 2022 was $102,751.

However, according to SI, the difference is stark compared to the NBA, where the average salary for the 2024-2025 season is approximately $11,910,649. The budget for the 2023-34 season was $9.7 million.

However, Talk Sport reported that NBA players earned an average annual salary of over $12 million in the 2023/24 season. Top NBA players earn more in one season than most WNBA players would earn in their entire career. Below is a rough breakdown of the last three seasons.

Season	WNBA average salary estimates	Average NBA salary estimates
2024-25	$116,800	$11.9 million
2023-24	$116,580	$9.7 million
2022-23	$102,751	About $8.25 million

How much revenue does the WNBA generate compared to the NBA?

By comparison, NBA players earn much more because the league generates much more revenue, more than $10 billion a year, compared to the WNBA’s roughly $200 million, according to WSN. This distinction explains why NBA salaries are much higher, even though both leagues are at the top of professional basketball.

The collective bargaining agreements (CBA) establish the league’s salary scale, which determines the WNBA’s pay structure. According to the Guardian, the median salary in the WNBA is $78,000, which is significantly less than average.

A huge percentage of the league’s players earn significantly less, especially rookies and those lower down the roster. Let’s assume that a few WNBA players are paid extremely high while most are paid relatively low salaries. In this case, the average salary will be higher than the median salary, making the median salary more closely reflect the typical player’s earnings.

WNBA vs. NBA salary

The highest-paid WNBA player, which includes players such as Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, Diana Taurasi and Jewell Loyd, earns just under $252,450 a year. For comparison, the highest-paid NBA player, Stephen Curry, earns over $55 million a year.

Curry’s per-game earnings exceed the annual salary of Jackie Young (the highest paid WNBA player). For comparison: Curry earns 217 times more than top WNBA players.

According to Hoops Hype, 27 NBA players will earn over $40 million each in the 2024-25 season, an amount unheard of in the WNBA. Even a single bench player can earn more than the entire team in the Women’s League.

Comparison of contracts and salaries for novices

Both often sign four-year contracts with debutants. In the NBA, the first two years are guaranteed, and teams have the option to extend the contract for a third and fourth year, during which wages increase. WNBA debutants, on the other hand, are signed to a three-year contract with the option of extending it to four years if the player and the team agree.

According to Marka, the top four picks in the WNBA draft are guaranteed a base salary of $76,535 for the first year. Their income increases slightly each year, depending on their conscript position.

According to Spotrac estimates, the NBA’s top rookies will earn more than $10 million in their first year alone. These contracts are partially guaranteed for the first two years, with the option to extend for a third and fourth year.

Meanwhile, WNBA rookies selected in the first round will receive a salary of $75,000 in their first year. For example, Caitlin Clark will earn $76,000 in the first year, $78,000 in the second year, and $85,000 in the third year.

Clark’s total compensation in four years will be approximately $338,000. Don’t forget that Caitlin Clark is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Clark’s total compensation in four years will be approximately $338,000. Don’t forget that Caitlin Clark is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the NBA draft, will earn approximately $55 million over the course of his first four-year contract. The pay discrepancy seems “ridiculous” considering Caitlin Clark is the face of women’s basketball and Victor Wembanyama was the top male rookie.

Why is there such a huge difference in earnings?

It comes down to generating money. The NBA generates significantly more revenue through television contracts, sponsorships, merchandise and ticket sales.

According to Just Women’s Sports, NBA players receive half of the total revenue, while WNBA players receive only half of the league’s additional revenue. This means that while the NBA distributes profits to players based on total revenue, the WNBA only pays out revenues in excess of the league’s financial goal for the season.

Players increasingly say that they feel there is no change in the way revenues are distributed. According to Just Women’s Sports, Las Vegas Aces standout Kelsey Plum stated in a 2022 interview:

“We do not demand to be paid the same as men. We ask that you earn the same percentage of shared income.”

Frequently asked questions

With 12 clubs and few roster spots, the competition for higher pay is fierce, and WNBA players must consistently perform at an exceptional level to advance to a higher pay scale. Here are more questions fans want answered.

• Who is the highest-paid woman in the WNBA? Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces is the highest-paid WNBA player for the 2024 season, receiving $252,450 on a two-year, $504,900 contract.
• What is the minimum salary in the WNBA? According to ESPN, the minimum salary for players with 0 to 2 years of experience is $64,154, while players with at least three years of experience is $76,535.
• What is the average salary in the NBA? According to Basketball Reference, the median NBA salary for the 2024-25 season is $6,696,429.

Although the average WNBA salary has increased over time, it still lags significantly behind NBA earnings. As the league grows and attracts more viewers and sponsors, player salaries are expected to continue to increase.

READ ALSO: NBA G League salary structure: how much do players earn in the NBA development league

Short information on the salary distribution in the NBA G league was published. In recent years, the league has seen a significant increase in popularity due to its role in attracting young talent to the NBA.

In addition to the excitement of the game, viewers often have questions about the G League’s salary structure.

Source: Short News