The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the premier professional league for women’s basketball globally. The league has experienced significant growth, leading to increased attention on player compensation. Salaries are governed by a structured Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), meaning a player’s income requires looking beyond a single number. This analysis breaks down the average WNBA salary for the 2024 season and the components that contribute to a player’s total earnings.
The Current Salary Structure
The average base salary for a WNBA player in the 2024 season is approximately $147,745, reflecting a substantial increase from previous years. This figure represents the mean of all player contracts, which range widely from the minimum to the maximum allowed by the salary cap rules. The minimum salary for a rookie (zero to two years of experience) is set at $62,285 for the 2024 season.
Top-tier players can earn significantly more through the designated maximum contract structure. The “supermax” salary for the 2024 season is $241,984, reserved for players who meet specific criteria, such as years of service and performance awards. While the average provides a sense of league pay, the median salary is often more representative in a league with a small number of high earners. The league’s overall salary cap for each team in 2024 is set at $1,463,200, dictating player payroll distribution.
Factors Influencing Player Pay
A player’s base salary is determined by their experience, draft status, and salary cap limitations. The WNBA utilizes a tiered rookie scale, meaning a player’s initial contract value is predetermined by their draft selection. For instance, the top four picks in the 2024 draft earned a first-year salary of $76,535, which is higher than the league minimum for other rookies.
Years of service are a major factor, as the minimum salary increases for players with three or more years of experience. Veteran players are eligible for higher maximum contracts and greater negotiating leverage. Contracts are distinguished as either “protected” or “unprotected.” A protected contract guarantees the player will receive their full salary even if waived, offering financial security not afforded to players on unprotected deals.
Beyond the Base Salary
The base salary paid by the team represents only one part of a WNBA player’s total annual income. The current CBA (running through 2027) introduced mechanisms to significantly increase total cash compensation through performance incentives and marketing agreements. Players can earn substantial performance bonuses for achieving individual and team milestones, such as winning the MVP award, being named to an All-WNBA team, or winning the WNBA Championship.
The league and its teams commit a minimum of $1.6 million annually toward marketing and promotional agreements, providing additional income for select players. These agreements, worth up to $300,000, are designed to recognize top performers and increase the league’s visibility. Historically, many WNBA players have relied on playing overseas during the offseason to supplement their income, where salaries can often exceed their WNBA earnings. The new CBA aims to reduce this reliance by increasing domestic compensation, though overseas play remains necessary for many players.
Recent Changes and Future Outlook
The 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement marked a turning point, resulting in a 53% increase in total cash compensation for players. This agreement introduced a new 50-50 revenue sharing model, contingent on the league meeting specific revenue growth targets. The CBA also included enhanced benefits, such as fully paid maternity leave and a childcare stipend, which improve the financial stability and working conditions for players.
The players’ union has the option to opt out of the current CBA before the 2025 season, which could lead to further negotiations for increased salaries and benefits. Given the league’s recent surge in popularity, viewership, and corporate partnerships, player compensation is expected to continue upward. Future negotiations will likely focus on increasing the salary cap and the percentage of league revenue shared with the players, directly impacting the average WNBA salary in the coming years.