The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has seen a rise in talent, dedication, and recognition as women break down barriers and make progress in the world of competitive sports.
In the name of their love, these amazing athletes have not only changed the rules of the game but also broken through glass ceilings. We look at the finances of women’s basketball by looking at the highest-paid WNBA players. We also honor the athletes who have done well both on and off the court.
If you want to learn more about the highest-paid WNBA players, whether you’re a basketball fan, doing research, or for your education, this article will help you discover some of the highest-paid pros in the game. Here’s what you should know.
1. Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Recent Team: Connecticut Sun (WNBA)
Background: Born in 1992 in Camp Hill, PA
Wealth: Annual Income: $210,000 (as of 2023)
Claim to Fame:
- Versatile player proficient in guarding both guard and post positions
- Four-time WNBA All-Star
Alyssa Thomas plays for the Connecticut Sun. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star who has six triple-doubles in 2023. This made her the first player to have more than two triple-doubles in a single regular season. She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins before being drafted by the New York Liberty in 2014.
She was later traded to the Connecticut Sun in 2015. She holds the record for double-doubles, rebounding, and scoring across all University of Maryland programs (men’s and women’s). She is also one of only three athletes in NCAAW history to have six career triple-doubles, as well as the only WNBA player to achieve 15+, 15+, and 10+ with no turnovers.
She has been declared the peak performer in rebounding. Alyssa was raised in Pennsylvania and is the all-time greatest scorer at the high school she attended as a teen.
2. Erica Wheeler, Indiana Fever
Team: Indiana Fever
Background: Born in 1991 in Miami, FL
Wealth: Annual Income: $242,150 (as of 2023)
Claim to Fame:
- Undrafted from Rutgers
- Named All-Star Game MVP
Erica Wheeler plays for the Indiana Fever. She played at Rutgers and graduated, but she was not drafted into the WNBA until 2015 when she joined the Atlanta Dream and later the New York Liberty. She joined the Indiana Fever in 2016.
She was the first undrafted player in WNBA history to be selected as All-Star Game MVP. She signed for Turkey’s Izmit Belediyespor and competed in the 2020-2021 season. She averaged 15.1 points per game during this period.
3. Arike Ogunbawale, Dallas Wings
Team: Dallas Wings
Background: Born in 1997 in Milwaukee, WI
Wealth: Annual Income: $234,940 (as of 2023)
Claim to Fame:
- Selected as the WNBA 2021 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
- Won the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month in 2023
Arike Ogunbowale plays for the Dallas Wings. She attended Notre Dame, where she was named Most Outstanding Player during the team’s 2018 national championship run. She competed in Season 26 of Dancing with the Stars. The Dallas Wings selected her in the 2019 WNBA draft.
She was named the Most Valuable Player in the WNBA 2021 All-Star Game in 2021. In 2023, she was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month. She is the 11th player in league history to score 20 or more points in the first four games of the season. She has performed abroad in Turkey and Russia. She has appeared in ads for State Farm.
4. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Team: Phoenix Mercury
Background: Born in 1982 in Glendale, CA
Wealth: Annual Income: $234,940 (as of 2023)
Claim to Fame: Fans selected Diana Taurasi as the league’s greatest player of all time
Diana Taurasi plays for the Phoenix Mercury. She is regarded as one of the finest players in WNBA history. She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2004 and received the WNBA Rookie of the Year title.
Her accomplishments include five Olympic gold medals, the WNBA MVP award, three FIBA world cups, and five scoring titles. She has also been named to fourteen All-WNBA squads and ten WNBA All-Star squads, earning ten first-team honors.
She has been named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time, and in 2021, fans voted her the league’s greatest player. She became the first player to reach 10,000 career points.
5. Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics
Team: Washington Mystics
Background: Born in 1989 in Wilmington, DE
Wealth: Annual Income: $234,350 (as of 2023)
Claim to Fame:
- Two-time WNBA MVP awardee
- Selected to seven All-Star teams
Elena Delle Donne plays for the Washington Mystics. She earned two WNBA MVP titles and was the first WNBA player to reach the 50-40-90 milestone. Delle Donne was named to seven All-Star teams and is currently the all-time leader in free throw percentage.
She played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens before being chosen by the Chicago Sky in 2013. She helped the Chicago Sky to the 2014 WNBA Finals. She was moved to the Washington Mystics in 2017, and she led the team to its first WNBA championship in 2019.
Delle Donne is one of three WNBA players who have career mode icons in NBA Live 19, and she has signed endorsement deals with DuPont and Nike.
Conclusion
The WNBA’s success is due to the hard work and skill of its players, who have not only done great in their sport but also set new standards for women in sports. Even though these top players have made a lot of money, what matters is what they’ve done for the game and society as a whole.
They are leaders, inspirations, and role models who show that if you work hard and are passionate, you can break down barriers and set new standards for future generations. This is just the beginning of the WNBA. Its players are still pushing the limits of what is possible, both on and off the court.
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