The library / WNBA
WNBA salaries, contracts and agents, explained
The WNBA entered 2026 with a new collective bargaining agreement, higher salaries and a schedule of expansion teams. This lane explains the new pay scale, how rookie contracts work under it, and how agents are certified to represent WNBA players.
Newest articles are at the top. Salaries cover the full pay structure, the rookie contract covers the first deal, and agent certification covers representation.
Latest articles
- September 28, 2026 · Part 2 of 4
How do you become a WNBA agent, and what does the process look like?
To represent WNBA players you must be certified by the Women's National Basketball Players Association. Its regulations require a four-year degree or negotiating or business experience accepted in its…
- September 26, 2026
How much does a WNBA rookie make in 2026?
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft earns $500,000 in her first season, and about $2.2 million over a four-year rookie deal. Every first-round pick earns at least $289,133, and second- and…
- September 26, 2026
How much do WNBA players make under the new CBA?
Under the collective bargaining agreement ratified in March 2026, WNBA salaries run from a minimum of $270,000 to $300,000, based on years of service, to a $1.4 million maximum, and the league…
Other lanes
Youth and Recruiting, College and NIL, NBA, International and FIBA. New to the vocabulary? Start with the glossary.