How Much Will WNBA Players Get Paid This Year?

Discussions around player pay and related benefits are regularly top-of-mind around the WNBA. So, how much do WNBA players make? What's this season's max salary? What's the salary cap threshold for each team?

Let's break it down.

Salary Structure in the WNBA Explained

As dictated by the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the WNBPA, the 2022 WNBA salary cap is set at $1,379,2002 per team, with a salary floor of $1,154,340. Additionally:

• The highest base salary for 2022 is $228,094 for the season. Three players are set to earn the WNBA max salary: Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury.
• The rookie minimum salary is $60,671
• The WNBA average salary is approximately $120,000

Following the 2020 CBA, players are eligible to make as much as $650,000 if they take home a max salary and cash out on bonuses from the annual Commissioner’s Cup competition, as well as team and league marketing payouts.

WNBA's Top 10 Highest-paid Players of 2022

t-1. Mercury G Diana Taurasi: $228,094 (max salary)
t-1. Storm F Breanna Stewart: $228,094 (max salary)
t-1. Storm G Jewell Loyd: $228,094 (max salary)
t-4. Mercury C Brittney Griner: $227,900
t-4. Mystics F Elena Delle Donne: $227,900
t-4. Mercury G Skylar Diggins-Smith: $227,900
t-4. Sun F DeWanna Bonner: $227,900
8. Liberty F Natasha Howard: $221,450
9. Dream G Tiffany Hayes: $215,000
10. Sun F Alyssa Thomas: $206,000