WNBA Salaries Jump 366% Under New Deal
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- WNBA implemented a new collective bargaining agreement in March that increased average player salaries by 366%, marking a transformative shift in compensation.
- Courtney Williams received a 561.1% salary increase, going from $180,000 in 2025 to $1.19 million in 2026, and celebrated with a night out at a Phoenix strip club.
- Natisha Hiedeman secured a two-year, $1.525 million deal and gifted Williams a 7-foot-tall custom Goku statue, while also commissioning a fist-sized jewel-encrusted 'NH' medallion for herself.
- Kiki Iriafen purchased a black Porsche Cayenne with a cheetah-print steering wheel after signing her new contract, though she emphasized saving and investing, including starting her 401(k).
- Nneka Ogwumike, as union president, helped negotiate the deal and rewarded herself with a hyperbaric chamber, advocating for both enjoyment and future planning of earnings.
- WNBA players gained access to year-round financial education through a union partnership with JP Morgan Chase, offering personalized support on investments, credit, and business development.
Why it matters: The WNBA’s 366% average salary increase materially shifts player economics, enabling immediate lifestyle upgrades and long-term wealth building. With union-backed financial education now in place, players like Ogwumike and Cunningham are turning higher pay into sustainable business ventures, changing the trajectory of women athletes’ financial independence.
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