For decades, the WNBA’s best kept their passports handy, knowing their real fortunes lay in Yekaterinburg or Istanbul. That ended in 2026. Now, the biggest checks are cashed on American soil. The shift felt tangible under the lights of a sold-out Intuit Dome, where the screech of sneakers suddenly sounded expensive. The humidity of 18,000 screaming fans slicked the floor, and the air felt charged with a weight that wasn’t there five years ago, the weight of generational wealth. Fans leaned over railings, screaming for athletes now commanding overseas money right here at home. Gone are the days of wintering in Turkey or Russia just to pay the mortgage. Just beyond the arc, the game remains the same, but the business behind it has revolutionized.
The Valuation Shift
The new media rights deal shifted the financial landscape violently. Hours later, front offices scrambled to adjust to a salary cap that had effectively ballooned overnight. According to The Athletic, the cap increase allowed franchises to prioritize retention like never before. General Managers couldn’t rely on loyalty anymore. They had to offer hard cash and fully guaranteed structures.
Teams now build their rosters around Supermax pillars. But that cash injection brought a new kind of pressure. A max contract in 2026 demands championship contention, not just playoff participation. Per Spotrac data, the average base salary for a starter has risen by 40% since the 2024 season. This list is the receipt for the league’s golden era.
To make this ranking, a player needed more than just a big name; they needed a protected veteran deal and a post-CBA adjusted max. Note that these figures reflect base salary only, excluding league marketing agreements (PMAs) or shoe deals, and apply specifically to veterans, filtering out rookie-scale stars like Caitlin Clark who haven’t hit free agency yet.
The 10-Spot: Cash Kings of the Hardwood
10. Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
2026 Base Salary: $345,000
The Moment: When the clock ticked down against New York, Plum buried a transition three-pointer that sucked the oxygen right out of the Barclays Center.
The Data: ESPN Stats & Info tracks her effective field goal percentage at 58% in clutch situations, a metric that drove her negotiation leverage.
The Legacy: Plum reinvented the role of the scoring guard. Over three seasons, she transformed from a pure scorer into a system-defining engine who justifies a max slot.
9. Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)
2026 Base Salary: $358,500
The Moment: Ogunbowale split a double team at the top of the key and floated a runner to clinch a postseason berth, proving her volume scoring translates to wins.
The Data: She logged the second-highest usage rate in the league (31.2%) while maintaining career-high efficiency, per Basketball Reference.
The Legacy: Dallas paid for the show. Despite the pressure, Ogunbowale remains the league’s greatest improvisational artist, making her contract a necessity for ticket sales and court production alike.
8. Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
2026 Base Salary: $362,000
The Moment: Ogwumike grabbed an offensive rebound over two defenders and converted the putback, displaying the veteran savvy that Seattle covets.
The Data: Synergy Sports ranks her in the 94th percentile for post-up efficiency, cementing her value even as she enters the later stages of her career.
The Legacy: Stability costs money. Few players provide the locker room leadership and consistent production that Ogwumike brings to a contender, making her price tag a bargain for culture.
7. Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
2026 Base Salary: $375,000
The Moment: Ionescu signaled a play change from the logo, creating a mismatch that led to an easy layup and illustrating her command as a floor general.
The Data: She stands as the only player in the top five for both assists and three-pointers made, according to WNBA Advanced Stats.
The Legacy: Ionescu represents the modern bridge between marketing power and on-court dominance. Her contract reflects her status as the face of New York basketball.
6. Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury)
2026 Base Salary: $405,000
The Moment: Copper intercepted a pass and sprinted the length of the floor for a layup, blowing past defenders with the speed that earned her the Kentucky Fried moniker.
The Data: Second Spectrum tracking data shows she generates the highest points-per-possession in transition among all wings.
The Legacy: Phoenix invested in pure athleticism. Copper’s relentless drive ensures she remains one of the few players capable of single-handedly changing the tempo of a Finals game.
5. Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
2026 Base Salary: $420,000
The Moment: Before long, the Gold Mamba took over the fourth quarter, scoring 12 consecutive points to erase a deficit against Minnesota.
The Data: Loyd led the league in fourth-quarter scoring for the second consecutive year, per Elias Sports Bureau.
The Legacy: Seattle has paid a premium for closing ability. Because of the loss of other veteran stars in previous years, securing Loyd became the franchise’s singular financial priority.
4. Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
2026 Base Salary: $435,000
The Moment: Collier blocked a shot at the rim, secured the ball, and initiated the fast break, showcasing the two-way dominance that defines her game.
The Data: She is one of two players to average 20 points and 2 steals, a statistical feat verified by Stathead.
The Legacy: The Phee era in Minnesota is defined by versatility. Her contract signifies that the Lynx view her not just as a star, but as the foundational system itself.
3. Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
2026 Base Salary: $460,000
The Moment: Stewart faced up from the elbow and drained a jumper over the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, making the difficult look routine.
The Data: Cleaning the Glass reports that New York’s offensive rating drops by 14 points when Stewart sits, the largest differential in the league.
The Legacy: Stewart maximizes every dollar. Her willingness to take short-term deals previously has culminated in this massive payout, rewarding her constant betting on herself.
2. Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
2026 Base Salary: $475,000
The Moment: Thomas grabbed a defensive board and threw a full-court laser to a cutting teammate, a play that no other forward in the world makes.
The Data: She recorded six triple-doubles in the 2026 season alone, breaking her own record according to WNBA League Operations.
The Legacy: The engine of the Sun. Thomas’s durability and unique playmaking make her indispensable and worthy of a near-max cap hit.
1. A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
2026 Base Salary: $515,000
The Moment: Wilson caught the ball on the low block, spun baseline, and finished through contact, screaming to the rafters as the Aces sealed another number one seed.
The Data: Her Hoops Stats confirms she leads the league in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) and defensive win shares, a statistical dominance unseen since the league’s inception.
The Legacy: The face of the sport. The Highest Paid WNBA Players 2026 list has a half-million-dollar woman. Wilson is not just a player; she is the standard bearer for the league’s economic arrival.
The Next Negotiation
The ink is barely dry on these contracts, yet the market continues to evolve. Several agents, speaking anonymously to ESPN, suggest that the $600,000 barrier will fall by 2028. These superstars have set a floor, not a ceiling. Rookies entering the league now eye these numbers with expectation rather than hope.
Now, franchises face the luxury tax. They have to decide: sacrifice depth for two superstars, or spread the wealth? The money is real now. The mistakes are more expensive. As the salary cap continues its upward trajectory, the question isn’t if another player will surpass A’ja Wilson’s mark, but how quickly the next record-breaking deal will be signed.
READ ALSO:
WNBA Financial Arms Race: Team Payrolls 2026
FAQ: Who is the highest-paid player on this 2026 WNBA list?
In this ranking, A’ja Wilson tops the list at a $515,000 base salary.
FAQ: Why did WNBA stars used to play overseas so much?
Overseas leagues often paid far more. Many players went abroad in the winter to make real money and protect their future.
FAQ: What changed in 2026 to push salaries higher?
New rights money and CBA leverage raised what teams had to pay to keep stars.
FAQ: Do these salaries include endorsements and shoe deals?
No. This list uses base salary only and excludes marketing agreements and sponsorship money.
FAQ: Which other players are near the top of this list?
Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, and Napheesa Collier all sit in the top tier in this ranking.
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