The 2026 WNBA draft will be held on April 13 in New York City, and this year’s rookies will be excited to join the league at the best possible time. Players have agreed to the new CBA deal with the league on a revenue-sharing model, which means players’ salaries will see a significant jump starting from the 2026 season. But exactly how much will WNBA rookies make this season?
Under the new CBA, rookies’ average salary will see a massive 246% jump this season to $270,000. However, the exact amount will completely depend on the round in which they are picked by teams.
What will top WNBA draft picks make in their rookie year?
As per the new CBA, the rookie salary for the top overall pick can go as high as $500,000, followed by $466,913 for the second pick and $436,016 for the third. The remaining seven first-round prospects can earn up to $289,133. The base salary of $270,000 will be for players drafted in the second and third rounds.
This year’s WNBA draft is filled with some interesting names. TCU Horned Frogs’ guard Olivia Miles is averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists and has made a lot of noise after skipping the draft last season. The 6-foot-4 Spanish center Awa Fam and the UConn Huskies’ Azzi Fudd are also in the mix to be top contenders.
Meanwhile, Miles has one more reason to be happy before the draft day. She was actually eligible for the draft last season, but she took another year in college to develop her skills. As it turns out, her lucky call to skip the 2025 draft has paid back even more than she expected, as she could make almost seven times what she would have gotten if she had turned pro last season.
The Horned Frogs guard talked to the media after the CBA negotiations ended and expressed her happiness. She said:
“It means money, thankfully. Hopefully, you can stay in the States, too, and it’s a win for women.”
Miles exuberated confidence in her skill set and looks ready to take on the WNBA next season. The Dallas Wings have the top pick, and only time will tell who they will pick to play alongside Paige Bueckers and bolster their squad for the 2026 season.
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