On Sunday ESPN reported Paige Bueckers, the presumed No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft, had signed a three-year contract with Unrivaled, the women's professional 3x3 league that debuted in Miami earlier this year. The deal is a major one — and it's also a major reminder of why the Women's National Basketball Player's Association (WNBPA) is fighting hard for a new, renegotiated collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the entire league.
The network didn't disclose exact figures, but noted the Bueckers will be paid more in her first season in Unrivaled than she will in her entire first four years in the league. That's a sobering reality that nearly every WNBA player who joined Unrivaled has faced.
How much Paige Bueckers will make in the WNBA
Assuming Bueckers is selected as the first overall pick, she will be paid $78,831 during her first season in the league. Though that isn't nearly enough, Bueckers will enter the WNBA making more than Caitlin Clark, as the current CBA dictates that picks #1-4 of the 2024 WNBA Draft had a base salary of $76,535.
How Unrivaled is changing the game for pro basketball players
Since the league was announced in 2023, Unrivaled has had a major impact on the WNBA and how players and teams are considering their worth. Unrivaled, which was founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, made more than $27 million in revenue this season and is set to at the very least repeat that feat.
The style of play in Unrivaled — a shorter shot clock, full-court 3x3 — made the league exciting and action-packed, with high-scoring games. The league also had a big impact on WNBA free agency, which coincided with Unrivaled's entire first season. Athletes from different WNBA teams were able to connect with one another and find out how well some teams support their players (and how well others do not); they were also able to take advantage of a multitude of perks available in Miami.
Perhaps most importantly, Unrivaled has provided a way for WNBA players to stay home in the offseason and still get paid at least a portion of what they deserve without having to travel overseas. It's a lot easier to bring your family or pet to Miami. The league has a few details to still work out (especially in terms of the high rate of athlete injuries that could compromise players' ability to play in the WNBA), but the league's future is bright.