The roar from the crowd at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game wasn’t just for dazzling dunks or buzzer-beaters—it was for justice. As the league’s brightest stars took the court in Las Vegas, their message was impossible to ignore: “Pay us what you owe us.” The words blazed across their warm-up shirts, echoing the growing call for fair pay in women’s basketball.

With the league’s popularity surging and negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) heating up, the spotlight has never been brighter on WNBA salaries—and the fight for equity.

A League on the Rise, But Salaries Lag Behind

The numbers are staggering: the 2024 WNBA season drew 54 million viewers, shattering previous records, and attendance soared to its highest point in 22 years. The energy in arenas and on social media is electric. Yet, while the league’s profile and profits climb, player salaries remain a fraction of what their NBA counterparts take home.

According to Spotrac, the average WNBA base salary is around $102,000—compared to the NBA’s $13 million average. Even the league’s top earners, like Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, cap out at $249,244 in 2025. By contrast, NBA superstars routinely sign contracts worth tens of millions per year.

So where’s the disconnect? For many WNBA athletes, the answer is clear: it’s about the share of revenue. While NBA players receive about 50% of their league’s basketball-related income (BRI), WNBA players get less than 10%. “We get a very tiny percentage of all the money that’s made through the WNBA,” Indiana Fever captain Napheesa Collier told reporters. “We want a fair and reasonable percentage of that.”

What Do WNBA Players Really Make?

The WNBA’s pay structure is complex, with salaries ranging from $66,000 to $250,000 per year. Rookies drafted in the top four picks all sign the same four-year deal—starting at $78,831 for their first season. Other rookies are paid according to draft position, with the lowest salaries at $66,079.

Veteran players can earn more, especially if they qualify for the “supermax” category by staying with a team past their rookie contract or amassing at least five years’ experience. In 2025, the supermax sits just below $250,000.

But these numbers are a far cry from the NBA, where even the league minimum salary surpasses $1 million. For many WNBA stars, the reality is that endorsement deals, sponsorships, and off-court ventures are crucial to their financial security.

Spotlight on the Stars: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

Two of the league’s most talked-about rookies, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, are prime examples of the WNBA’s pay landscape—and its limitations.

Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, signed a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever worth $338,056. Her annual salary started at $76,535 and will rise to $97,582 by 2027. Yet, it’s her off-court earnings that truly set her apart: Clark reportedly inked an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike, and her NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals during college at Iowa brought in around $3.4 million.

Angel Reese, the 7th overall pick in 2024, signed a four-year deal with the Chicago Sky totaling $324,383. Like Clark, Reese’s sponsorships with brands like Reebok and Hershey’s Reese’s Pieces, plus her own podcast, have helped her build a financial cushion. Still, she’s candid about the challenges: “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese told fans in 2024. “I don’t even think it pays one of my bills, literally.”

Why the Pay Gap?

The crux of the pay debate lies in how league revenue is shared. The WNBA’s 2020 CBA set both team and individual salary caps, with the team cap at $1.5 million in 2025—rising 3% annually. Minimum and maximum salaries for players are also spelled out, increasing each year with league growth.

But even as the league’s fortunes rise, the players’ share of revenue has not kept pace. “That’s one of the things we’re in the room fighting for,” Caitlin Clark said of the ongoing CBA negotiations. “We should be paid more, and hopefully that’s the case moving forward as the league continues to grow.”

A Defining Moment: The Fight for Fair Pay

The current CBA expires on October 31, 2025, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of the agreement in October 2024, signaling a new era of activism.

“This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” said Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike. “We’re not just asking for a CBA that reflects our value; we’re demanding it, because we’ve earned it.”

Players are also pushing for better facilities, improved health and family planning benefits, and more resources for travel and rest. As the league grows, so too does the expectation that it will invest in the athletes who make the WNBA a must-watch event.

Fans Join the Chorus

The movement isn’t just coming from the locker room. At the 2025 All-Star Game, fans joined in with chants of “Pay them!” as players took the court in their statement shirts. Social media lit up with support, and the conversation about pay equity in sports reached a fever pitch.

What’s Next?

With the league and union at the bargaining table, the future of WNBA salaries hangs in the balance. The players’ demands are clear: a fair share of the revenue they help generate, and recognition for their role in the league’s explosive growth.

As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes are on the outcome of the CBA talks. Will the WNBA finally deliver the pay equity its stars deserve? One thing’s for sure: the players—and their fans—are not backing down.

Stay tuned as this story unfolds. The future of women’s basketball is bright, and the next chapter promises to be the most exciting yet.