The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the premier professional basketball league for women in the United States, featuring twelve teams and a highly competitive schedule. Player compensation is governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which establishes the financial framework for salaries. The CBA dictates minimum pay, maximum limits, and the mechanisms for overall player earnings. The league operates under a hard salary cap that restricts the total amount each team can spend on player contracts. The structure of these contracts, along with supplementary income streams, paints a complete picture of the economic reality for athletes competing at the highest level of women’s basketball.
The Current Average Salary
The average base salary for a WNBA player in the 2025 season is approximately $102,249, a figure that represents the mean of all contracted base salaries across the league. This average base salary is a distinct metric from the total cash compensation, which includes performance bonuses and league-sponsored marketing agreements. The average is derived from a team salary cap that is set to approximately $1,507,100 for the 2025 season. This cap limits the entire roster’s payroll, meaning a team’s distribution of contracts directly impacts the individual salaries. The league’s financial growth, driven by increased viewership and corporate partnerships, has contributed to a gradual rise in this average over the years. However, the average base salary is still significantly lower than the total average cash compensation figure that top players can reach.
Factors Determining Player Compensation
An individual player’s base salary is primarily determined by a tiered system outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which distinguishes compensation based on a player’s tenure and status. The minimum salary is split into two categories: players with two or fewer years of service receive a lower minimum, while those with three or more years receive a higher minimum, reflecting the value of experience. For the 2025 season, the minimum base salary for players with three or more years of service is set at $78,831, while newer players earn $66,079.
The maximum base salary is also tiered, featuring a standard maximum and a higher “supermax” designation. The standard maximum salary for a veteran player in 2025 is $214,466, available to players with a certain number of years of experience. The “supermax” salary, approximately $249,244 for the 2025 season, is reserved for highly accomplished veterans who meet specific performance and tenure criteria.
To qualify for the “supermax” deal, a player must have at least five years of service and sign an extension with their current team or be designated as a “Core” player by that team. The “Core” designation allows a team to retain its top player with an exclusive contract offer, often set at the maximum allowable salary. Rookie contracts are predetermined based on draft position, with the top four picks receiving the highest contract value on a four-year scale that increases annually.
Non-Salary Compensation and Offseason Earnings
Beyond the contracted base salary, WNBA players can significantly increase their total cash compensation through a variety of league-provided benefits and external income streams. The league offers performance bonuses for major awards, such as Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as prize money distributed from a pool for special in-season competitions. These bonuses are intended to reward individual and team excellence.
The CBA includes provisions for league and team marketing agreements, which provide additional income outside of the salary cap. Select players can receive up to $300,000 in annual cash compensation through these marketing deals, which promote the league and its stars. The CBA also addresses quality-of-life improvements, including full-salary maternity leave, a childcare stipend, and enhanced travel standards, such as premium airfare and individual hotel rooms.
Given the relatively short WNBA season, many players traditionally supplement their income by playing overseas during the offseason. High-demand players can earn significant six-figure salaries in foreign leagues, which often exceed their WNBA base pay.
The current CBA introduced “time off bonuses” of up to $50,000, which are paid to players who agree to limit or entirely forego playing internationally. External endorsements, sponsorships, and marketing partnerships also make up a large portion of a star player’s total annual income.