Top 5 WNBA Stars Poised for Supermax Paydays

The WNBA's new CBA includes a historic revenue-sharing model and a supermax contract starting at $1.4 million.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:40pm

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The WNBA and WNBPA have reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement that will transform the league's financial landscape. The new supermax contract will start at $1.4 million and could grow to over $2.4 million by 2032, a significant increase from the previous $249,444 supermax. Five WNBA stars - A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum, and Nneka Ogwumike - are poised to be among the first to cash in on the league's new lucrative deal.

Why it matters

The WNBA's new CBA represents a major milestone for women's professional sports, establishing the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model. This will allow the league's top players to be compensated more fairly and could help attract even more talent to the WNBA. The supermax deals will also raise the profile of the league and its stars, potentially driving increased viewership and fan engagement.

The details

The new WNBA CBA includes several key changes, including a jump in the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million and the introduction of a supermax contract starting at $1.4 million. This is a significant increase from the previous supermax of $249,444. The league also secured an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, setting the stage for players to opt out of the CBA in 2024 and negotiate even more lucrative terms.

  • The WNBA and WNBPA completed and signed a term sheet for the new CBA on Friday, March 22, 2026.
  • The new supermax contract will start at $1.4 million and could grow to over $2.4 million by 2032.
  • The WNBA announced an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal in July 2024.

The players

A'ja Wilson

The 29-year-old Aces forward/center is the best player in the WNBA, having won a championship, WNBA Finals MVP, WNBA MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. She is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time blocks champ, and the 2024 scoring champion.

Breanna Stewart

The 2021 WNBA MVP, 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, and five-time All-Star has won multiple championships and was named to the "W25" list of the league's best 25 players over its 25-year history.

Napheesa Collier

The five-time All-Star, four-time All-WNBA selection, and four-time All-Defensive selection is the heart and soul of the Minnesota Lynx, who were the preeminent dynasty of the 2010s.

Kelsey Plum

The four-time All-Star guard won back-to-back championships with the Aces in 2022 and 2023 before requesting a trade to the Los Angeles Sparks, where she led the team in scoring and assists last season.

Nneka Ogwumike

The 10-time All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA honoree is entering her age-36 season but remains a dominant force. She is also serving her third term as WNBPA President and was instrumental in negotiating the historic new CBA.

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What they’re saying

“When I get comparisons to the NBA, it's like apples and oranges. We're so young. Where we are in our league versus where the NBA was [in its 26th year] ... we're technically bigger.”

— Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks star

“I tell fans all the time, like, don't come support me. Come watch me play. When you go watch Devin Booker play, you're not saying, 'I'm here to support Devin.' No, you say, 'I wanna see this man hoop.' [...] There's a language difference. This isn't charity. I think that matters. That respect factor matters.”

— Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks star

What’s next

The WNBA and WNBPA will finalize the details of the new CBA in the coming weeks, paving the way for the league's top stars to sign supermax deals.

The takeaway

The WNBA's historic new CBA represents a transformative moment for women's professional sports, providing the league's elite players with the financial compensation they deserve and setting the stage for the WNBA to continue growing its fanbase and global reach.