WNBA Rookie Salaries Soar Under New CBA

Top draft picks like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to see major pay increases

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:37pm

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The new WNBA collective bargaining agreement has significantly boosted rookie salaries, allowing top draft picks like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese to earn much more than under the previous CBA. The No. 1 overall pick in 2026 will make a base salary of $500,000 in their first season, over 6 times more than the $80,408 Bueckers was scheduled to make in 2026 under the old deal. The increases aim to better compensate the league's rising stars and address the dissonance between their popularity and low salaries.

Why it matters

The new CBA represents a major win for WNBA players, especially the league's top young talents, who will now be able to earn salaries more commensurate with their star power and the growing popularity of the WNBA. This should help retain top college players in the league and attract more elite talent going forward.

The details

Under the new CBA, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft will make a base salary of $500,000 in their first season, up from just $80,408 that 2025 No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers was scheduled to make. Rookie salaries will continue to increase each year, reaching $646,360 by the fourth season. Salaries for the 2024 and 2025 draft classes were also increased by 4% each year. While the average WNBA salary of $583,000 will still be higher, the gap has narrowed significantly compared to the previous CBA.

  • The new WNBA CBA was agreed to in principle in early 2026.
  • The 2026 WNBA Draft will be the first to feature the new rookie salary scale.

The players

Caitlin Clark

A standout college player who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Paige Bueckers

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Angel Reese

A highly touted prospect who was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Aliyah Boston

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, who is eligible for a supermax contract in her fourth season.

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What’s next

The 2026 WNBA Draft will be the first to feature the new rookie salary scale, with the No. 1 overall pick earning a base salary of $500,000 in their first season.

The takeaway

The WNBA's new CBA represents a major step forward in compensating the league's rising stars, helping to address the previous disconnect between the popularity of top college players and their relatively low rookie salaries. This should improve the WNBA's ability to retain and attract elite talent going forward.