A’ja Wilson’s record deal: The 5 richest contracts in WNBA history

The WNBA salary landscape has officially changed forever. A’ja Wilson has agreed to a historic new deal with the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the first player in league history set to earn a seven-figure annual salary.

The contract is expected to start around $1.4 million per year and could exceed $4.7-$5 million total, making it the richest deal the league has ever seen.

To put that in perspective, Wilson made roughly $200,000 per year under her previous contract, a staggering jump that highlights just how dramatically the WNBA’s financial structure has evolved.

What A’ja Wilson’s deal means for the WNBA

Wilson’s record-setting deal is the clearest sign yet that the league’s new collective bargaining agreement is reshaping player earnings in a major way. The WNBA’s updated CBA, which takes effect in 2026, raises the salary cap from about $1.5 million to roughly $7 million, while also increasing revenue sharing for players.

That financial shift is why salaries are suddenly exploding. Max contracts are jumping from around $200K–$250K. Supermax deals are now over $1 million annually, more than four times higher than the previous max (~$250,000). And top rookies are already approaching $500K per season.

Wilson may have the richest deal, but she’s far from alone. More than 20 players across the league, including Kelsey Mitchell, Jackie Young, and Brittney Griner, have already signed contracts worth $1 million or more annually under the new system, signaling a massive shift in player earnings.

The 5 richest contracts in WNBA history

Now let’s put this in perspective by showing how Wilson’s deal stacks up against the other four richest contracts in the history of the league. While several players have now signed million-dollar annual deals under the new CBA, Wilson’s contract still stands alone in total value and long-term impact, which is why it tops this list.

1. A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)

• Contract: 3 years, ~$1.4M annually, up to ~$5M total
• First million-dollar-per-year player in WNBA history
• The face of the league and a four-time MVP, Wilson’s deal represents the full impact of the new CBA and instantly resets the salary ceiling.

2. Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)

• Contract: Previous supermax-level deal, ~$200K+ annually under old CBA)
• One of the league’s biggest stars and a key voice in CBA negotiations, Stewart was among the highest-paid players before the salary structure changed.

3. Jewell Loyd (Las Vegas Aces)

• Contract: Former supermax, ~$240K range
• Loyd was one of the top earners under the previous system and a key example of how tightly grouped elite salaries used to be.

4. Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)

• Contract: Multiple max deals across her career, ~$200,000–$234,000 annually in later years
• A longtime face of the league, Taurasi consistently ranked among the highest-paid players during earlier eras of the WNBA salary cap.

5. Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)

• Contract: Max-level contracts, ~$200K+ annually pre-2026
• A former MVP whose deals reflected the old ceiling before the current financial boom.

What stands out immediately is how compressed salaries used to be.

Before 2026, the highest-paid players were all in the same ~$200K range and there was little separation between stars. Now, Wilson is making 5–7x more than previous max players. The gap between elite players and the rest of the league is growing, and future superstars could push salaries even higher.

And with the league’s revenue continuing to rise, fueled by increased viewership, expansion teams, and new media deals, this may only be the beginning. Wilson may not hold the top spot for long.

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