Nothing has dominated the discourse around the CBA like the new revenue-sharing system and the higher salaries. The WNBA will have its first million-dollar player this season—and not just one, but several.
That is not the only change the WNBPA accomplished. The new CBA includes two developmental roster spots, upgrades to staff and facility standards, better protections for pregnant players, and recognition payments and healthcare reimbursements for retired players. The latter ranges from $30,000 to $100,000 depending on the length of their careers.
Getting something for already retired players out of the new CBA was a long-overdue priority for Alysha Clark. When she and Bri Turner appeared on In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams, Clark outlined that recognition for retired players had already been on the table during the 2020 CBA negotiations, but had to make way for more pressing issues. So, this CBA was a chance to make up for that missed opportunity.
“For me, it was like this go around, we’re the last bridge group to be able to have that connection to the OGs that we saw firsthand the sacrifices that they made, and it’s times that they get at least something to say thank you for keeping this league alive so we could have this moment to be able to fight for what we deserve,” Clark said.
She also added that she hoped that the next generation of players who would be involved in negotiating the next CBA would build on the foundation the current EC laid and make sure that retired players get more than just a one-time payment.
WNBA players didn’t make much money for generations
The WNBA would not be where it is today without generations of players who stepped onto the court and competed at the highest level possible despite low pay.
Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, made a total of $1.38 million during her 20-year career. When she joined the league as the number one pick in 2004, she made $42,000 in her first season. Her biggest contract paid her $469,872 over two seasons. Taurasi’s WNBA salary paled so much compared to her earnings in Russia that she even sat out the 2015 season at the request of her overseas team.
Candace Parker, who was named Rookie of the Year and MVP as soon as she played her first WNBA season, made $44,000 as a rookie in 2008. Although she was drafted five years after Taurasi, Parker earned just a smidge more than the Mercury star.
Maya Moore, one of the best players in the history of the game and the 2014 MVP, made roughly $650,000 over her career.
Low salaries weren’t just a problem in the 2000s and 2010s, though. Sheryl Swoopes, one of the WNBA’s first big stars, a four-time champion, and a three-time MVP, made $50,000 in 1997, and that made her one of the highest-paid players in the league. The base salary was $15,000 at the time.