WNBA Salaries Remain Contentious as Paige Bueckers Set to Match Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Pay

Paige Bueckers, widely expected to be the top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, is slated to receive a base salary of just over $78,000—mirroring the rookie pay of last year’s top pick, Caitlin Clark. Despite her strong NIL profile with deals from major brands such as Nike and Gatorade, the current structure continues to fuel debates about fair pay. Players and union leaders, including Napheesa Collier, are urging for a revenue sharing model more akin to the NBA, especially as collective bargaining talks intensify ahead of the current agreement's expiration.

The push for better compensation is further underscored by comparisons to emerging leagues. For instance, participants in the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled league, founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart, have enjoyed average salaries of over $220,000 despite the upcoming rookie season in the WNBA remaining unchanged. Additionally, significant media rights deals, such as the recent 11-year, $200 million annual deal scheduled to begin next season, hint at potential future improvements in player salaries. (AP, 2025-04-11)