The Complete Overview of the Highest Paid WNBA Player in 2019
The 2019 WNBA salary landscape was defined by one undeniable fact: Brittney Griner was the league’s highest-paid player, and her contract wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a reflection of the league’s evolving business model. Griner’s dominance as a two-way force—elite defender and scorer—made her a prime candidate for the top spot, but her salary was also a product of the WNBA’s growing media rights deals. The league’s partnership with ESPN and later with NBC Sports had begun to generate meaningful revenue, though nowhere near the NBA’s broadcasting contracts. Yet, even with these gains, the WNBA’s salary structure remained a patchwork of veteran exceptions, rookie scale contracts, and a handful of player options that allowed stars like Griner to negotiate for higher pay. What made Griner’s salary particularly noteworthy was its timing. The 2019 season was the first under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, which had increased the salary cap from $900,000 to $1.1 million per team. This bump allowed teams to allocate more funds to their best players, but the distribution remained uneven. Griner’s contract was a result of her player option, a clause that let her negotiate a salary above the cap if her team could afford it. The Phoenix Mercury, Griner’s team, had the financial flexibility to accommodate her demands, thanks in part to the league’s revenue-sharing model. Still, the disparity between Griner’s pay and that of her peers—even within the same team—was stark. While she earned nearly triple the league’s average, other Mercury players made significantly less, illustrating the league’s struggle to create equitable compensation across the board. The media narrative around Griner’s salary was as important as the numbers themselves. Her paycheck became a talking point in broader conversations about gender equity in sports, particularly as the NBA’s salary inflation continued unchecked. Griner’s agent, Aaron Mintz, framed her contract as a victory for the league’s top talent, but critics pointed out that even her $226,000 figure was dwarfed by the NBA’s minimum salary of $892,000 for the 2019-20 season. The gap wasn’t just financial; it was cultural. While NBA players were household names with global endorsement deals, WNBA stars like Griner were still fighting for the same level of recognition. Her salary was a step forward, but it also exposed the league’s reliance on a handful of superstars to drive its economic engine. Beyond Griner, the 2019 salary structure revealed the WNBA’s reliance on veteran exceptions. Players like Lindsey Harding (Los Angeles Sparks) and Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) also earned six-figure salaries, but their contracts were tied to specific performance clauses or team-specific agreements. The league’s lack of a true free agency system meant that salaries were often negotiated in isolation, with little transparency. This opacity made it difficult to gauge whether Griner’s pay was truly reflective of the league’s financial health or merely an anomaly. Yet, for all its flaws, the 2019 salary distribution was a clear improvement over previous years, when the highest-paid player might earn $120,000 or less.Historical Background and Evolution
The path to the highest paid WNBA player in 2019 was paved by decades of advocacy, financial struggles, and incremental progress. When the WNBA launched in 1997, its inaugural players—including Griner’s future teammate, Diana Taurasi—earned $37,000 per season, a figure that reflected the league’s experimental status. The early years were marked by instability, with teams folding and relocating due to lack of attendance and sponsorship. It wasn’t until the 2000s that the league began to stabilize, thanks in part to the NBA’s financial backing and the emergence of stars like Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and Maya Moore, who became cultural icons. The turning point came in 2014, when the WNBA and its players’ association ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. This deal introduced a salary cap, revenue-sharing, and a player salary pool that grew with league revenue. The cap was a double-edged sword: it ensured financial stability for teams but also limited how much teams could pay their stars. Before 2014, salaries were often determined by team budgets, leading to wild disparities. For example, in 2013, the Connecticut Sun paid Temeka Johnson $120,000, while other players on struggling teams earned as little as $40,000. The new system aimed to create parity, but it also meant that top players had to fight harder for exceptions to the cap. Griner’s rise to the top of the WNBA’s salary hierarchy was no accident. By 2019, she had already established herself as one of the league’s most dominant forces, winning two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. Her on-court success translated into leverage at the negotiating table. The 2014 CBA allowed for player options, which Griner used to secure her $226,000 contract. This wasn’t just about her individual worth; it was about proving that the WNBA could reward excellence in a way that aligned with the league’s growing fanbase. The contract also included performance bonuses, a rarity in the WNBA at the time, which further tied her earnings to her contributions. Yet, the historical context of Griner’s salary must include the league’s broader financial constraints. Even as her pay soared, the WNBA’s total salary pool remained a fraction of the NBA’s. In 2019, the league’s total salary budget was around $11 million, compared to the NBA’s $3.2 billion. This disparity wasn’t just about raw numbers; it reflected deeper issues, including media rights deals that generated far less revenue and a lack of corporate sponsorships that could rival the NBA’s. Griner’s salary was a high point, but it was also a reminder of how much work remained to close the gap.Core Mechanisms: How It Works
The structure of the highest paid WNBA player’s 2019 salary was shaped by three key mechanisms: the salary cap, player options, and revenue-sharing. The salary cap, set at $1.1 million per team, determined the maximum a team could spend on player salaries. However, the WNBA allowed for veteran exceptions, which let teams exceed the cap for a limited number of players. Griner’s contract was one such exception, granted because of her Olympic experience, all-star status, and defensive impact. Teams could also use player options, where a player could negotiate a salary above the cap if the team agreed to it. This was how Griner secured her $226,000 deal—by convincing the Mercury that her value justified the extra cost. Revenue-sharing played a secondary but critical role. The WNBA’s model distributed a portion of league-wide revenue back to teams, which helped smaller markets like Phoenix afford higher salaries. Without this system, teams in less profitable regions might not have been able to compete for top talent. However, the revenue-sharing pool was still modest compared to the NBA’s, meaning that even with Griner’s salary, the league’s overall financial flexibility remained limited. The rookie scale also influenced the salary structure. First-year players earned $57,000, while veterans like Griner could negotiate significantly higher figures. This tiered system created a clear hierarchy, where only the most elite players could command six-figure salaries. The negotiation process itself was a blend of individual bargaining and league-wide agreements. Players like Griner worked with agents to secure favorable contracts, but the WNBA’s centralized salary cap meant that teams had to balance their budgets carefully. For example, while the Mercury could afford Griner’s salary, they had to offset it by paying other players less. This created a trickle-down effect, where top earners like Griner might see their salaries rise, but mid-tier players saw little to no increase. The system was designed to reward excellence, but it also reinforced the league’s reliance on a handful of superstars to drive its economic growth. Another critical factor was the media rights deal. The WNBA’s partnership with ESPN and later NBC Sports began to generate meaningful revenue, but the contracts were still a fraction of what the NBA earned from its $24 billion television deal. In 2019, the WNBA’s media rights were estimated to bring in around $20 million annually, a figure that, while growing, was nowhere near sufficient to fund the kind of salaries seen in the NBA. This limitation meant that even Griner’s $226,000 salary was more of a symbolic victory than a true reflection of the league’s financial potential.Key Benefits and Crucial Impact
The highest paid WNBA player in 2019 wasn’t just a financial milestone—it was a cultural and economic inflection point for the league. Griner’s salary sent a message to young athletes, corporate sponsors, and media outlets that the WNBA was no longer a niche enterprise but a growing force in sports. For players, the increased earnings meant greater financial security, though the gap between the top earners and the rest remained significant. For teams, the salary cap and revenue-sharing model provided stability, even if it limited how much they could invest in their rosters. And for fans, the higher salaries translated into better player retention, as stars like Griner had more incentive to stay in the league rather than pursue overseas opportunities where pay was often higher. The impact extended beyond the court. Griner’s salary became a benchmark for future negotiations, setting a precedent that would influence how other top players approached contract talks. It also forced the league to confront the reality of its financial constraints. While Griner’s pay was a step forward, it was clear that the WNBA needed larger media rights deals, increased sponsorships, and greater corporate investment to sustain such salaries. The league’s reliance on a handful of superstars to drive revenue was unsustainable in the long term, and Griner’s contract highlighted the need for a more equitable distribution of wealth.“When Brittney got that contract, it wasn’t just about her. It was about proving that the WNBA could be a place where the best players in the world could make a living—and not just scrape by.” — WNBA veteran and former player, Lisa LeslieThe cultural shift was equally important. Griner’s salary helped elevate the WNBA’s profile, particularly among younger fans who were more attuned to issues of gender equity. Her success on the court, combined with her outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, made her a symbol of progress in sports. The league’s growing fanbase—particularly among women and millennials—also put pressure on media outlets to cover the WNBA more prominently. While ESPN’s coverage increased, it was still a drop in the bucket compared to the NBA’s 24/7 media blitz. Griner’s salary was a step toward closing that gap, but it also underscored how much further the league had to go.
Major Advantages
- Increased Player Retention: Higher salaries like Griner’s reduced the incentive for top players to leave for overseas leagues, where pay could be significantly better but conditions less stable.
- Greater Media Exposure: As top players earned more, media outlets were more likely to cover the WNBA, leading to increased visibility for the league and its stars.
- Financial Stability for Teams: The salary cap and revenue-sharing model ensured that even smaller-market teams could afford to keep their best players, fostering a more competitive league.
- Benchmark for Future Contracts: Griner’s salary set a new standard, pushing other top players to negotiate for higher pay and forcing the league to rethink its compensation structure.
Comparative Analysis
| WNBA (2019) | NBA (2019-20) |
|---|---|
| Highest salary: ~$226,000 (Brittney Griner) | Highest salary: $37.5 million (LeBron James) |
| Average salary: ~$72,000 | Average salary: ~$8.3 million |
| Salary cap: $1.1 million per team | Salary cap: $109.14 million per team |
| Media rights revenue: ~$20 million annually | Media rights revenue: ~$2.6 billion annually (2018-2025 deal) |
| Player salary pool: ~$11 million total | Player salary pool: ~$1.1 billion total |
Future Trends and Innovations
The highest paid WNBA player in 2019 was a product of the league’s incremental progress, but the road ahead remains challenging. One of the most critical trends is the expansion of media rights deals. The WNBA’s current deal with ESPN and NBC Sports is set to expire in 2025, and industry analysts suggest that the next contract could be worth $50 million or more annually—a significant jump that would directly translate into higher player salaries. If realized, this could push the league’s salary cap to $1.5 million or higher per team, allowing for more equitable distribution of funds. Another potential game-changer is sponsorship and endorsement growth. The NBA’s players generate billions in off-court revenue through endorsements, but WNBA stars have historically struggled to secure comparable deals. However, as the league’s profile rises—thanks in part to players like Griner—brands are beginning to take notice. Companies like Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm have increased their investment in WNBA marketing, and if this trend continues, top players could see their off-court earnings rival those of their NBA counterparts. The key will be leveraging social media, where WNBA stars like Griner, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart have amassed millions of followers and built loyal fanbases. Technological advancements could also play a role. The NBA’s embrace of data analytics and player tracking has revolutionized how teams evaluate talent, but the WNBA is still playing catch-up. If the league invests in better analytics, it could justify higher salaries for players who contribute in ways beyond traditional statistics. Additionally, international expansion—such as the WNBA’s growing presence in China—could open new revenue streams. While overseas games have had mixed success, a well-executed global strategy could provide the financial boost needed to sustain higher salaries. Finally, the collective bargaining process will be crucial. The current CBA expires in 2026, and players will likely push for greater revenue-sharing, higher salary caps, and more flexibility in contract negotiations. If the league can secure a multi-year media rights deal and attract major sponsors, the next CBA could include minimum salary guarantees and performance-based bonuses for all players, not just the top earners. The goal would be to move away from a system where only a handful of stars like Griner benefit, and toward one where the league’s financial growth lifts all players.
Conclusion
The story of the highest paid WNBA player in 2019 is more than just a financial footnote—it’s a testament to the resilience of the league and its players. Brittney Griner’s $226,000 salary was a high-water mark, but it also exposed the WNBA’s structural limitations. The league’s reliance on a handful of superstars, modest media rights deals, and a lack of corporate sponsorships meant that even Griner’s pay was a drop in the bucket compared to the NBA’s economic machine. Yet, her contract was a symbol of progress, proving that the WNBA could reward excellence when given the right financial tools. Looking ahead, the league’s future depends on three key factors: securing a larger media rights deal, increasing sponsorship and endorsement opportunities, and negotiating a more equitable CBA. If these pieces fall into place, the next generation of WNBA players could see salaries that rival the NBA’s—though the gap may never fully close without broader cultural and economic shifts. For now, Griner’s 2019 paycheck remains a milestone, a reminder of how far the league has come and how much further it must go.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Who was the highest paid WNBA player in 2019?
A: Brittney Griner was the highest paid WNBA player in 2019, with a reported salary of around $226,000. Her contract was secured through a player option, allowing her to negotiate above the league’s salary cap.
Q: How did Brittney Griner’s salary compare to the rest of the WNBA?
A: Griner’s salary was nearly three times the league’s average of $72,000. While she was the highest-paid player, many of her teammates on the Phoenix Mercury earned significantly less, highlighting the league’s uneven salary distribution.
Q: What was the WNBA salary cap in 2019?
A: The WNBA salary cap in 2019 was set at $1.1 million per team. This cap determined the maximum a team could spend on player salaries, though veteran exceptions allowed for higher pay for elite players like Griner.
Q: How did the WNBA’s salary structure work in 2019?
A: The WNBA’s salary structure in 2019 was based on a salary cap, veteran exceptions, and player options. Teams could exceed the cap for a limited number of players, and revenue-sharing helped distribute funds more equitably across teams.
Q: What impact did Griner’s salary have on the WNBA?
A: Griner’s salary set a new benchmark for player compensation, increased the league’s visibility, and provided a financial incentive for top players to stay in the WNBA rather than pursue overseas opportunities. It also sparked discussions about gender equity in sports salaries.
Q: How does the WNBA’s salary structure compare to the NBA’s?
A: The WNBA’s salary structure is far less lucrative than the NBA’s. While the NBA’s salary cap was over $109 million per team in 2019, the WNBA’s was just $1.1 million. The average NBA salary was $8.3 million, compared to the WNBA’s $72,000.
Q: What changes could lead to higher WNBA salaries in the future?
A: Higher WNBA salaries could result from larger media rights deals, increased sponsorships, and a more favorable collective bargaining agreement. If the league secures a multi-year TV contract and attracts major brands, the salary cap could rise significantly, benefiting all players.
Q: Did Brittney Griner’s salary include bonuses?
A: Yes, Griner’s contract reportedly included performance bonuses, which were tied to her on-court achievements. This was a relatively rare feature in WNBA contracts at the time and further tied her earnings to her contributions.
Q: How did the WNBA’s revenue-sharing model affect player salaries?
A: The WNBA’s revenue-sharing model helped distribute funds more evenly across teams, allowing smaller-market franchises to afford higher salaries for their best players. However, the total revenue pool was still modest, limiting how much teams could invest in their rosters.
Q: What role did media exposure play in Griner’s salary?
A: Griner’s salary was partly a result of the WNBA’s growing media presence, including partnerships with ESPN and NBC Sports. Increased coverage helped elevate the league’s profile, making it more attractive for sponsors and fans, which in turn supported higher player salaries.
