Just days before she likely hears her name called as the No. 1 pick in Monday, April 14 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers is already making major money moves. According to ESPN, the UConn superstar has agreed to a three-year deal with Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league that’s quickly becoming a game-changer.
The real shocker? Her first-year salary from Unrivaled is expected to exceed the entire value of her four-year rookie contract in the WNBA. And fans aren’t staying quiet about what that says about the league.
Fans Slam WNBA Pay Gap and Applaud Paige Bueckers’ Unrivaled Deal
Shortly after the news broke, one fan summed up the mood in five brutal words: “The W should be embarrassed.”
It’s hard to argue with that sentiment. In the WNBA, Bueckers is projected to earn $78,831 as a rookie—a figure that will increase over time but still fall far short of what Unrivaled is offering upfront. Bueckers’ projected first-year earnings with Unrivaled reportedly top $220,000.
For a league that just watched Bueckers average 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting over 53% from the field and nearly 42% from deep, that’s a harsh look.
But while some fans pointed fingers at the WNBA’s outdated pay structure, others celebrated the doors Unrivaled is opening. “Glad Unrivaled is giving someone like Bueckers the chance to earn at a high level while giving fans an awesome product to watch,” one fan posted.
Unrivaled, co-founded by stars like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is changing the offseason equation. Instead of going overseas to chase paychecks, players like Bueckers can now stay home, make serious money, and grow the game on U.S. soil. “This is amazing for women. Stay in the US during the offseason and not being forced overseas,” another fan noted.
Bueckers didn’t play during Unrivaled’s debut season, but she’s set to join the action next year—and fans believe her presence alone will take the league up a notch. “Incredible she is always trying to grow and make others around her better. This will bring in a ton of revenue,” one admirer shared.
Of course, not everyone is thinking dollars and cents—some fans are just hyped about what this could mean for women’s basketball overall. “I like dat da women tryna get this league goin alongside the W,” wrote another.
With Bueckers likely headed to the Dallas Wings and now signed to Unrivaled, one thing’s for sure—this offseason just became a whole lot more lucrative, and possibly historic, for women’s hoops.