Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are entering a new financial chapter in the WNBA thanks to a recently reached collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ union.
For years, players in the WNBA earned modest salaries compared with their impact and global popularity. Young stars like Clark and Reese previously made well under $100,000 under their rookie deals.
Under the previous system, Clark earned just $78,066 in 2025, and Reese made roughly $75,000 that same season. Those figures stood in stark contrast to what elite talent could earn in other professional sports.
That landscape is changing dramatically. The WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement that boosts the league’s salary structure for the 2026 season and beyond.
The deal raises the league salary cap from $1.5 million to about $7 million and increases minimum, average, and maximum pay across the board. Supermax contracts can now top $1.4 million or more, vaulting star players into a much higher earning tier.
Under the new terms, Clark is projected to see her salary jump to around $528,000 in the 2026 season, a leap of more than $450,000 from her previous earnings.
That figure could rise even more in future seasons, especially if she secures AllWNBA honors and qualifies for a supermax contract.
Reese’s rising pay reflects the new era
Reese, who has been a consistent force for the Chicago Sky, is also on course for a substantial raise. Her projected salary for the upcoming season is about $350,692, a significant increase from the roughly $75,000 she earned last season.
Although her pay is expected to remain below Clark‘s due to draft position and contract structure, the jump is still historic for a player in her third season.
Fans have already reacted to the new numbers, with some noting that stars like Reese still make less than other rising talents in the league despite their production.
A new financial frontier for the WNBA
The broad impact of the agreement extends beyond these two players. Average salaries across the league are expected to rise into the mid six figures, and even minimum pay is projected to exceed $300,000.
The wage structure shift aims to align player compensation more closely with the league’s growing revenue and global appeal.
For Clark and Reese, the new era means not only recognition as marquee talents on the court, but also compensation that finally reflects their star power and the economic reality of women’s basketball in 2026 and beyond.
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