WNBA Rookie Contract Explained: Salary, Length, and the 2025 Draft Scale
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How Long Are WNBA Rookie Contracts?
The WNBA rookie contract length and structure are determined by draft position, with rookies entering the league on predefined contracts that vary based on their selection order. First-round picks receive the security of a multi-year deal, while players selected in later rounds must earn their spot with a non-guaranteed contract.
First-Round Picks: Players selected in the first round receive a protected “Rookie Scale Contract.” This is a four-year deal with a “3+1” structure:
- Guaranteed First Three Years: The team is committed to the player for the first three seasons of the contract.
- Team Option in Year 4: Before the fourth season, the team has the exclusive right to decide whether to keep the player.
While first-rounders have a “protected” scale, their long-term security depends on the team’s willingness to commit to the fourth year. A first-round selection is not a “done deal” for success, as shown by these two paths:
- Veronica Burton (2022, No. 7 Overall): The Dallas Wings chose to decline her fourth-year option and ultimately waived her just before the 2024 season. After being picked up by Connecticut, she was left exposed in the 2025 Expansion Draft. She was selected by the Golden State Valkyries, started every game, and was named the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player.
- Aari McDonald (2021, No. 3 Overall): Unlike Burton, McDonald actually had her fourth-year option formally exercised by the Atlanta Dream. However, even with that security, she was traded to the Sparks and later found herself navigating the league on hardship contracts by 2025.
Second & Third-Round Picks: Players selected in the second and third rounds do not receive guaranteed contracts. They must earn a roster spot by signing a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary “training camp” contract. They must make the final 12-player roster for their contract to become active for the season and can be released at any time.
- Charisma Osborne (2024, No. 25 Overall): Drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, the UCLA standout was waived during final training camp cuts. After an injury opened a spot, she was re-signed a month later, only to be waived a second time later that season. For third-rounders like Osborne, the contract offers no safety net; you are essentially auditioning every week for a spot.
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WNBA Rookie Salary Scale for 2025
Rookie salaries are fixed and based on a player’s draft position, with first-round picks earning more than second- and third-round selections. While later-round picks sign one-year deals, the image below shows the CBA mandated scale which outlines their potential earnings if their team chooses to re-sign them in subsequent seasons.
While rookies earn fixed salaries, veteran players can negotiate higher contracts based on experience and performance. For context, the average WNBA salary in 2024 was approximately $147,000. For the 2025 season, veteran salaries cover a wide spectrum. A player with three or more years of experience will earn a minimum of $78,831.
For the 2025 season, top salaries are capped by a “hard” salary cap of $1,507,100 per team:
- Veteran Minimum (3+ years): $78,831
- Regular Max: $214,466
- Supermax (Elite Veterans): $249,244
Because the WNBA operates under a hard salary cap of $1,507,100 (2025), teams must balance rookie deals against veteran talent. There is no luxury tax, so if a team is even $1 over, they must waive someone. This forces teams to make tough decisions when balancing rookie contracts, max deals, and veteran depth.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 CBA Negotiations
As of February 3, 2026, the WNBA is at a financial crossroads. Yesterday, league officials and the Players Association (WNBPA) met in New York for three hours of “pivotal” negotiations.
The current 2025 rookie scales are expected to be the last of their kind. The league has reportedly proposed a $5 million salary cap for 2026, which would see top rookies average $250,000, average salaries jump to over $530,000 and maximum salaries reach $1.3 million. While these talks are ongoing, they signal a massive shift in how future rookies—and the teams that draft them—will value their contracts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a WNBA rookie contract? It depends on the draft round. First-round picks receive a four-year contract (3 years guaranteed + 1 team option). Second and third-round picks must sign one-year, non-guaranteed contracts.
How much do top WNBA rookies make in 2025? The top four draft picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft will earn a first-year salary of $78,831.
Are all four years of a rookie contract guaranteed? No. Only the first three years are guaranteed. The team decides whether to retain the player for the fourth year.
- Who is the highest paid WNBA player? For 2025, the highest paid WNBA player is Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces, earning $252,450.
📖 This is part of our WNBA Draft 101 series.
