Caitlin Clark earns $528,846 in 2026
Caitlin Clark earns $528,846 with the Indiana Fever in 2026 after the collective bargaining agreement increased pay on rookie-scale contracts. Indiana selected her No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, beginning her deal.
Clark averaged 21.5 points and 7.9 assists per game through late July 2026. Her current pay remains well below the $1.4 million supermax available to eligible veterans under the league’s new compensation structure this season.
Kelsey Mitchell reaches the $1.4 million max
Kelsey Mitchell earns $1.4 million with Indiana in 2026 on a one-year supermax contract. The Fever guard became a four-time WNBA All-Star in July after receiving her fourth consecutive selection for the league showcase game.
Mitchell averaged a career-best 20.2 points per game in 2025 and finished fifth in MVP voting. Her 2026 salary exceeds Clark’s $528,846 pay by $871,154, reflecting different contract structures under the new agreement.
A’ja Wilson signs a $5 million deal
A’ja Wilson earns $1.4 million with the Las Vegas Aces in 2026 under a three-year, $5 million supermax contract. She signed in April after becoming the first WNBA player ever to win four MVP awards.
Wilson’s guaranteed agreement totaled $5 million and briefly stood as the largest WNBA contract by total value when signed. Aliyah Boston’s four-year, $6.3 million extension surpassed that total only two days later in April 2026.
Napheesa Collier joins the $1.4 million tier
Napheesa Collier earns $1.4 million with the Minnesota Lynx in 2026 on a one-year supermax contract. Her agreement placed her alongside Wilson and Mitchell as the third player to reach the league’s highest salary level.
Collier averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 2025 while finishing second in MVP voting. Her 2026 salary stands at $871,154, above Clark’s $528,846, placing both in clearly different compensation tiers.
Ezi Magbegor earns $1.25 million
Ezi Magbegor earns $1.25 million with the Seattle Storm in 2026, placing her below the three supermax players. Seattle retained the center in April after using its core designation during the league’s free agency period.
Magbegor passed 1,000 career rebounds and recorded her 350th block during the 2025 season. Her $1.25 million salary sits $721,154 above Clark’s pay and $150,000 below the $1.4 million supermax for veterans.
Alyssa Thomas reaches $1.2 million
Alyssa Thomas earns $1.2 million with the Phoenix Mercury in 2026, placing her behind Magbegor’s salary tier. The Mercury re-signed the 6-time WNBA All-Star and 4-time All-WNBA selection in April, keeping the veteran forward.
Thomas entered the season as the WNBA leader with 19 regular-season triple-doubles and 6 more in the playoffs. Her $1.2 million 2026 salary is $671,154 higher than Clark’s $528,846 salary under the new compensation structure.
Marina Mabrey secures $1.2 million
Marina Mabrey earns $1.2 million with the Toronto Tempo in 2026 after joining the expansion franchise. The team selected her in April before signing the guard to a two-year contract worth $2.4 million in total.
Mabrey averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game with Connecticut in 2025. Her $1.2 million salary exceeds Clark’s 2026 pay by $671,154, placing the Toronto guard firmly within the seven-figure group.
Breanna Stewart reaches the standard max
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu each earn $1.19 million with the New York Liberty in 2026. Both stars signed three-year standard maximum contracts valued at 17% of the team salary cap for each covered season.
The $1.19 million standard maximum sits $210,000 below the $1.4 million supermax and $661,154 above Clark’s 2026 salary. Several established players occupy this tier, showing another compensation level beneath the highest veteran contracts.
WNBA has 31 players at $1 million or more
The WNBA had 31 players earning $1 million or more for the 2026 season, reflecting broader salary growth under its new labor agreement. Clark’s $528,846 pay remains below every member of that seven-figure group.
Those 31 contracts show how many established players moved into seven-figure territory after the new agreement. Clark remains on an adjusted rookie-scale deal, while veteran maximum rules create separate earning levels for other eligible players.
Caitlin Clark sits below projected average
The WNBA projected an average salary of $583,000 for 2026 under the new collective bargaining agreement. Clark’s $528,846 salary sits $54,154 below that benchmark after rookie-scale contracts received upward adjustments for this season.
Minimum salaries range from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 based on years of service. Clark earns above the league floor, but remains below the projected average and beneath the $1.19 million standard maximum.
Fun fact: Caitlin Clark’s reported eight-year Nike deal is worth $28 million, more than 50 times her $528,846 WNBA salary for 2026.
Azzi Fudd starts at $500,000
Azzi Fudd earns $500,000 with the Dallas Wings in 2026 after becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in April. Her rookie salary reflects the higher scale established under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Clark earns $28,846 more than Fudd in 2026 because their rookie contracts began under different salary structures. Clark received $78,066 in 2025, which increased to $528,846 under the new agreement.
WNBA salary cap jumps to $7 million
The WNBA set each team’s 2026 salary cap at $7 million under the new collective bargaining agreement, up from $1.5 million in 2025. That increase raised available payroll to nearly five times its previous level.
The 2026 supermax is $1.4 million, while a standard maximum contract equals 17% of the team salary cap, or $1.19 million. Clark earns $528,846 because her rookie-scale contract was adjusted under the agreement.
Megyn Kelly’s criticism of Caitlin Clark triggered a strong response and added another layer to the debate around the WNBA star. Curious what Kelly said and why people pushed back? Explore the comments and reactions surrounding Clark.
Caitlin Clark is under contract for 2027
Caitlin Clark is under contract with the Indiana Fever for $597,596 in 2027 after the team exercised her club option. That figure is $68,750 above her $528,846 salary for the 2026 season.
Without an extension, Clark projects to become a restricted free agent after 2027. Her 2024 All-WNBA First Team selection makes her eligible for the Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract provision, which can raise 2027 pay.
Shaquille O’Neal’s comments about Caitlin Clark raise a bigger question about how young stars adjust to the WNBA’s physical style. Wondering why Shaq thinks Clark must toughen up? Dive into his reasoning and the debate surrounding her game.
Caitlin Clark’s salary trails several established WNBA stars despite her profile and production. Should contract experience matter more than market value when salaries are set? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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