This page will provide information about the salary of a WNBA professional. The salary list shows you the salaries of the league's top players. You can also learn about the overseas leagues they play in and their seasons. The WNBA has this information.
WNBA salary
There are many variations in the salary of WNBA athletes. Some players make as much as 5-8 times the salary of other players in the league. For more lucrative overseas opportunities, some have chosen not to play in the WNBA. For example, Australian hoopster Liz Cambage has opted to sit out five seasons of WNBA play to pursue other lucrative opportunities. However, she stated that the WNBA is still the "best league" in the world.
Sometimes, players receive compensation based on their performance. League rules establish the WNBA salary limits. Most players earn between $47,000 - $52,000 each season. This is much less than the salary of an NBA player. Although players can receive bonuses, the difference between them and the salary is very minimal. This is especially true for younger gamers.
The highest paid WNBA player earns more than $230,000 each season. Diana Taurasi, the league's highest-paid player, is this season. She earns $228.094, while Elena Delle Donne makes the second-highest.
WNBA has overseas leagues
Many players are attracted to the WNBA's international leagues. Luxury travel perks are available for players, as well as salaries four to five-times higher than WNBA salaries. However, not all players can afford the extra money. Sometimes, players must leave their country to seek better opportunities.
The league has made steady progress in improving its financial performance over the years. Its first "cash-flow positive" team emerged during the 2010 season. By 2011, it had three profitable teams and six in 2013. As a result, the league was able to sign television deals with ESPN and sponsorship deals with Boost Mobile.
One of the biggest complaints regarding WNBA's overseas leagues has been that players aren’t receiving their full salaries. This is a problem WNBA is trying avoid. The WNBA is determined to prevent this by trying to keep all players in the U.S. throughout the year. To do this, it introduced controversial "prioritization" rules which would make players choose between playing in a league and staying home.
The long season in the WNBA
The WNBA is set to play its longest season yet this season. The league will play 36 games per side, which is a new record. The 2021 finals series was the most watched in four years and saw a 24 percent increase in ratings on ESPN. But the longer schedule will cause conflicts with other international leagues, which were already in existence prior to 1997 when the WNBA began.
Despite the long season, the WNBA has been able to pull off a few major feats in the off-season. First, the league was able to raise record capital. This will enable the league to improve its long-term performance. Second, the league has a new head coach and is welcoming some new corporate partners. Becky Hammon, who was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs for eight years, will take the Las Vegas Aces' helm.
To make the regular season more competitive, the WNBA made some changes to it. No more teams are given byes in the first and second rounds. The playoff format is now three-round, with the semi-finals and finals being decided by the best-of-5. Each team will host two rounds. If a series ends in a tie after three rounds, the higher seeded team will host game one and two, while the lower seeded team will host game three and four.