Top 10 Biggest Contracts in WNBA History

The biggest debate that often surfaces regarding WNBA players is the pay anomaly in comparison to NBA players. Though the WNBA started in 1996, the league has grown thanks to the players who gave their all to bring attention to it. Over the years, the players have been rewarded for their immense dedication to the game as they earned hefty contracts. Women’s basketball has started gaining a reputation among fans, and therefore, players also gained significant attention and marketability. Today, we will discuss the biggest rewards that these women basketball players received for their hard work and passion, which made the league’s following global.

These big sums of money are a testament to the progressive nature of sports that is evolving over the years. Even after the lack of a lucrative fund bank as a backup, the team owners invested wholeheartedly in the players, trusting their potential. So, let’s check out how powerful the impact of progression was for the players.

WNBA’s 10 Biggest Contract Players

1. DeWanna Bonner – $899,480

DeWanna Bonner has the prestige of being the player with the biggest contract in WNBA history. She earned recognition for this title while playing for the Phoenix Mercury during the initial stint of her career, according to Marca. The year she was drafted into the league, 2009, she was one of the first to sign a deal with her respective team. In fact, DeWanna Bonner signed her rookie contract with the Phoenix Mercury after they selected her as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft.

However, the lucrative amount she once received for her skills on the court was justified by her performance. She earned two championships with the Mercury; the first came in 2009, while her second championship with the Mercury was in 2014. However, Bonner has moved on from her past team and is currently playing for the Connecticut Sun. She is on a one-year, $200,000 contract with her current team.

2. Elena Delle Donne – $899,200

Elena Delle Donne entered the league when the Chicago Sky drafted her in 2013 as the second overall pick. However, even coming at a later stage in the league after DeWanna Bonner, Elena made the team owners trust her and earned a lucrative contract worth $899,200. She drove her team through the competitive league franchises to the 2014 WNBA Finals. However, Elena Delle Donne encountered her nemesis, DeWanna Bonner, and succumbed to the Phoenix Mercury. After some years, in 2017, the Chicago Sky traded her to the Washington Mystics.

Finally, with her second team, she won a championship in 2019 with the Washington Mystics. However, it is not just basketball that Elena Delle Donne loves and supports; she is also into advocating for disability rights and the inclusivity of women in sports.

3. Skylar Diggins-Smith – $899,000

Skylar Diggins-Smith was part of the same draft class as Elena Delle Donne. However, Elena was the second overall pick, while Skylar was the third overall pick for the Tulsa Shock. In March 2016, when the Tulsa Shock became the Dallas Wings, the guard also made a significant change to her contract. She signed a max contract with the Dallas Wings and became one of the few players to hold the largest contracts ($899,000) in the WNBA.

After the Dallas Wings, Skylar Diggins-Smith went to the Phoenix Mercury in 2020 and then, after three years, made a shift to the Seattle Storm. For now, there is no change in her WNBA venue, but the Storm guard is still waiting for a WNBA championship as a career accolade.

4. Natasha Howard – $898,700

Last year, in 2024, Natasha Howard held the title of the second-highest contract holder in the WNBA. The deal she signed was worth $898,700 with the Indiana Fever in 2021. The duration of the contract was four years. She was also one of the highest-paid players in the WNBA.

Natasha was the fifth overall pick in 2014 for the Indiana Fever. But surprisingly, she achieved success and gained fame while playing for the Minnesota Lynx in 2016 and 2017. Throughout her extensive experience in the league, she has played for various teams, including the Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, New York Liberty, and currently, the Dallas Wings.

5. Alyssa Thomas – $836,000

The fifth-biggest contract in the WNBA belongs to Alyssa Thomas, who is currently playing for the Connecticut Sun. Thomas is one of those players who evolved under the league’s pressure and has turned out to be a gem in the later stages of her career. Surprisingly, she was the 4th pick for the New York Liberty in the 2014 Draft Class. However, the Connecticut Sun acquired her on the same day and arguably made the best decision for their franchise. Thomas has developed into a rebounding, assists, and steal machine in the league over the past two years.

After 2014, she signed a deal with the Sun in 2018 and later in 2021. The contract that earned her a spot on the biggest contract list was the 2021 max extension with the Connecticut Sun for four years.

Additional Players with Notable Contracts

Now, let’s quickly scoot through the other half of the biggest contracts in the WNBA pool:

6. Arike Ogunbowale – $725,952

The $725,952 contract of Arike Ogunbowale extends through the 2025 WNBA season. The contract she signed is valid for three years and came into effect in 2023. She was drafted as the fifth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft class. Ogunbowale has held the hand of the Dallas Wings since 2019 and has not let go since then. In the 2024 season, she averaged 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.1 steals.

7. Sue Bird – $673,000

Sue Bird is one of the greats of the game who graced the WNBA court with her skills for 20 years. She has now retired, but she earned four championships for the Seattle Storm across three different decades. It is a one-of-a-kind achievement that only Sue Bird could accomplish during her time in the league. As a guard, Sue Bird accumulated championships in 2004 and 2010 by February 2016. However, her journey was far from over, as she signed her max contract and then led the Storm to two more championships in 2018 and 2020.

8. Brittney Griner – $664,544

Whether it’s on the hard court, in prison, or at home, Brittney Griner has endured enough hardships in life. Her life is full of controversies, including the 2015 domestic violence incident that led to her suspension for a year and the 2022 imprisonment case in Russia. However, despite all this, she has earned respect in the league due to her excellence. The Phoenix Mercury signed her in 2013 as the first overall pick. By 2017, when she proved her mettle, the Mercury management offered her a contract that secured her place among the highest contracts in the WNBA.

9. Marina Mabrey – $620,000

Marina Mabrey has been in the league for quite some time since she was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks as the fourth overall pick. However, she could not stay there for long because, in 2020, she was traded to the Dallas Wings, according to ESPN. Later, she signed a hefty contract worth $620,000 with the Chicago Sky for three years. Yet, her association with the team could not last long, as mid-season, she was sent to the Connecticut Sun last season.

10. Kelsey Mitchell – $618,000

The Indiana Fever picked Kelsey Mitchell in 2018 as the second overall pick. She underwent management testing for about three years. After witnessing significant potential in Mitchell, the Fever team signed her for a $618,000 contract in 2022 for approximately three years. It is valid until the end of the 2025 WNBA season.

List of All Biggest Contract Players in WNBA History

The following table summarizes the largest contracts in WNBA history:

Conclusion

The greatest contracts ever signed in WNBA history aptly illustrate the league’s commitment to compensating its finest players. While these figures still cannot match their NBA counterparts, they signal an optimistic future for fair compensation. Also, there has been an evident escalation of interest in women’s basketball and an increased investment in the WNBA. Through sponsorships, media opportunities, and global recognition, WNBA players are creating a legacy that will endure beyond the game itself. As the business thrives, so will the contracts that define the stars of the league and usher in a new era of growth, innovation, and prosperity for women in athletics.

FAQs