The WNBA is one of the highest-paying professional women’s sports leagues in the world. In fact, some of the top WNBA players can earn up to six figures per season in this profession.
So, who is the highest paid WNBA player, and how did she get there?
Let’s take a closer look.
Top 10 Highest Paid WNBA Players
The WNBA is home to some of the best athletes in the world. And while many people believe that athletes in the women’s league do not make as much money as those in the NBA, this is not always the case. In fact, a number of WNBA players earn more than their male counterparts.
Here are the highest paid WNBA players who earn more than the average WNBA salary.
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi, the Phoenix Mercury guard, is the most paid WNBA player with a WNBA salary of £181,736 for 2022. The incredible 39-year-old American has been an asset to the Phoenix Mercury since she was drafted into the WNBA in 2004.
In her 16-year career, she won many awards and titles, including ten WNBA All-Stars, three WNBA championships, and six WNBA Peak Performer awards.
In addition to her salary, she earned £1.1 million by collaborating with the sports drink BodyArmor and sporting LeBron James’ line during her matches. Her net worth is estimated to be £2.8 million.
Breanna Stewart
With a base salary of £181,736 in 2022, the 27-year-old power forward player, Breanna Stewart, is titled one of the most paid WNBA players. Steward started her professional career with the Seattle Storm, the team she currently represents. She is also a member of the Russian team, UMMC Ekaterinburg.
Breanna Stewart set the record for most defensive rebounds in a single season in 2016 (277) and the record for average highest points per game (11.2).
In May 2021, Breanna Stewart struck an endorsement deal with Puma to have her own signature shoe, making her the tenth player to sign a Puma ambassador contract in WNBA history.
An Olympic games winner and holder of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup title, Breanna has an estimated net worth of £1.1 million.
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Elena Delle Donne
The 32-year-old American is a record holder for the highest career free-throw percentage of .938. Elena Delle Donne took out the Washington Mystics from their dark era of being at the bottom of the league with her exceptional field performance. Her reward is a well-deserved of £184,691 salary.
Along with Candace Parker and Brittney Griner, she is also one of the first WNBA players to have career mode icons in the NBA Live 19 video game.
Her popularity as a professional basketball player helped her land endorsement deals with Nike and DuPont. Delle Done has also signed a sponsorship deal with the sports care products company Zamst. Her net worth is estimated to be approximately £324,162.
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Skylar Diggins-Smith has been an important guard for the Phoenix Mercury since 2020 and is considered one of the hottest female athletes worldwide. At only 31 years old, she is a five-time WNBA All-Star, a three-time All-WNBA First Team honouree, the WNBA’s Most Improved Player, and many other notable accomplishments.
Diggins-Smith’s net worth is estimated to be £324,162, with a salary of £184,691 plus endorsement deals with Roc Nation Sports, Nike, Body Armor and Puma. Skylar is a member of the GenYouth Board of Directors and serves as a role model and inspiration to young people.
Brittney Griner
Not only that Brittney Griner right behind the highest-paid WNBA player, but she is known for her height, as she is one of the tallest female basketballers in the WNBA. The 31-year-old centre has signed a 3-year contract of £538,550 with a salary of £184,691. She currently plays for the NBA team Phoenix Mercury.
In 2012, she set a career record with 2 000 points scored and 500 shots blocked, making her the only NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) professional basketball player to do so.
Griner’s best endorsement deal is worth £810,405, and it is with the sporting wear company Nike. Brittney Griner’s net worth in 2021 is estimated to be £3.2 million.
Natasha Howard
Natasha Howard is a power forward basketball player who exceeds the expectations in every basketball game. The Ohio basketball star is now playing for the WNBA team New York Liberty and the Russian club Dynamo Kursk.
Natasha Howard is paid £179,464 to make the New York Liberty league champions with her shooting, dribbling, and blocking skills. She is also the club’s highest-paid player and has a net worth of £729,365.
Tiffany Hayes
Tiffany Hayes was born in Fort Polk South, Louisiana, USA. She is currently 32 years old and plays for the WNBA club Atlanta Dream and the Turkish Çukurova Basketbol team.
So far in her professional career, through her performance, she has amassed 3,650 points, 881 rebounds, 646 assists, 297 steals, and 70 blocks in her professional career, earning her a contract worth £174,237 for the 2022/2023 season.
Hayes’s net worth is £1.2 million, and the Nike sponsorship is one of the most significant boosts to her career.
Alyssa Thomas
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Alyssa Thomas is an incomparable basketball talent who is on the list of most paid WNBA players at the age of 30. Thomas started her professional career in the WNBA in the 2014 draft when she was recognised and selected by New York Liberty in the first round.
Alyssa Thomas is a top earner in the WNBA league who currently plays as a power forward for the Connecticut Sun, and she is getting paid £166,944. Her estimated net worth is £1.2 million.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker was born in Missouri on April 19, 1986. She became one of the highest paid WNBA players by being a multi-talent baller who could play centre, power forward, and guard.
Parker is currently playing for the Chicago Sky and makes a base salary of £155,353. Her two-year contract guaranteed her £306,724.
Her £4 million net worth includes opulent endorsement deals with sportswear, nutrition, beauty, and electronic companies such as Adidas, Beats by Dre, Gatorade, JBL Audio, Kellogg Co, Mixed Chicks, and NBA 2K. Parker’s endorsement deals are estimated to be worth £2.4 million.
Sue Bird
Sue Bird has been a point guard in the Seattle Storm since they drafted her in 2002. She is an American-Israeli female basketball player who has won four WNBA championships and been a WNBA All-Star 12 times.
Although Sue Bird’s most recent contract was for a base salary of £57,474 from 2022 to 2023, she earned the title of one of the highest-paid WNBA player for the 2021 season, earning an average salary of £176,152.
Added value to Sue Bird’s net worth of over £6 million is her endorsement contracts worth £1.2 million and include business brands like Nike, American Express, Glossier, State Farm and Symetra.
Conclusion
The highest paid WNBA players always challenge themselves and find ways to top off their performance to break WNBA records.
As a result, some argue that their pay should be increased even further because of their outstanding performance on the basketball court.
The most paid WNBA players are always the stars of the show, both in the league and in their personal lives.
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