The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game brought more than just celebration and bright colors. While the festivities surrounded the biggest names in the game, the stars made their message clear: they want fair pay.
Players wore t-shirts reading “pay us what you owe us,” turning the spotlight on a glaring issue that goes beyond the court. Let’s break down the salary gap between the WNBA and NBA, and why there is such a massive disparity between the two leagues.
How Do WNBA and NBA Minimum Contracts Compare?
Both leagues use salary caps, which define the maximum amount a team can spend on its roster. However, the way money is distributed for minimum contracts works differently between the two leagues.
The amount of a player’s minimum contract depends on years of service in both leagues. A player with 10+ years of service earns a higher minimum contract than someone with fewer years.
According to Spotrac, the WNBA pays a fixed income for veteran minimum contracts based on a player’s number of years in the league. In the 2025 season, a rookie or player with two years of service earns a minimum of $66,079.
Starting 2026, players with three or more years of experience can earn $81,196. WNBA players can earn even less than the $66,079 minimum if they sign mid-season or their contracts are prorated.
The NBA numbers paint a completely different picture. Going into the 2025-26 season, an NBA player’s minimum contract ranges from $1.3 million for a rookie to $3.8 million for a player with 10+ years of service.
So, why are the minimum contracts so different? Well, there are some major differences between the NBA and WNBA schedules and media-rights deals. The NBA plays 82 regular-season games and recently inked a new media-rights deal worth $6.9 billion a year. Meanwhile, the WNBA plays 44 regular-season games and has a TV deal worth $200 million per year.
Who Are the Lowest-Paid Players in Each League?
Beyond seven-day contracts given to WNBA players, Haley Jones holds the distinction of being the league’s lowest-paid player. She signed with the Dallas Wings on July 9, nearly halfway into the season, earning $39,960.
Twenty-two WNBA players earn the league minimum of $66,079, with salaries increasing incrementally for the rest of the lower-earning players.
The NBA operates differently with two-way contracts. These deals allow players with four or fewer years of experience to split time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate. These players make less than the standard minimum contract.
According to HoopsHype, 12 players are either second-round picks or went undrafted, signing two-way contracts. Some players include RJ Luis, a St. John’s University standout, and the 41st pick, Kobe Brea, from Kentucky. These players will earn $636,435 in the 2025-26 season.
The WNBA’s historic rise in popularity during the 2024 season, fueled by names like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and others, led to significant action.
The players’ union opted out of the current WNBA collective bargaining agreement in October 2024. They hope to strike a new deal by October 2025 that provides improved benefits and increased player compensation.
WNBA players making a statement at the All-Star game:
“Pay us what you owe us.” pic.twitter.com/AL1uf7lfEB
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 20, 2025
The numbers reveal the magnitude of the disparity. The difference between the lowest-paid players in the NBA and WNBA is nearly $570,000 more, and that’s for a two-way contract. When comparing minimum contracts, the difference reaches about $1.2 million.
The pay gap for women’s basketball won’t close overnight. However, continued investment, visibility, and collective bargaining efforts are building the foundation for female athletes to earn more of what they feel they deserve.
