In 2020, the Women's National Basketball Association came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement that included significant salary bumps.
As detailed by CNBC, the average pay for a WNBA player in the season prior to the new agreement was around $116,000. Under the new agreement, the base salary increased to $130,000. Not only that but the maximum salary a WNBA player could earn almost doubled, from $117,500 to $215,000 in 2020, per ESPN.
Salaries will continue to rise in the years to come, as the WNBA's salary cap will increase by three percent annually.
With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that many of the richest contracts in WNBA history were signed over the last couple of seasons.
Richest contracts in WNBA history
According to Spotrac, DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins-Smith, each signed the richest contract in WNBA history in 2020, worth $899,480 over four years. The $898,700 contract Natasha Howard signed the following year ranks fourth all-time.
Also in the top 10 richest contracts in WNBA history are Storm legend Sue Bird and Mercury star Brittney Griner.
| Rank | Player | Contract |
| 1 | DeWanna Bonner | $899,480 |
| Elena Delle Donne | $899,480 | |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | $899,480 | |
| 4 | Natasha Howard | $898,700 |
| 5 | Alyssa Thomas | $836,000 |
| 6 | Arike Ogunbowale | $725,952 |
| 7 | Sue Bird | $673,000 |
| 8 | Brittney Griner | $664,544 |
| 9 | Kelsey Mitchell | $618,000 |
| 10 | Betnijah Laney | $588,801 |
| Kayla McBride | $588,801 | |
| Aerial Powers | $588,801 |
Highest-paid active WNBA players
According to Spotrac, Jewell Loyd and Arike Ogunbowale are currently set to be the highest-paid WNBA players in the 2023 season, with each of them earning $234,936.
DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins-Smith aren't far behind.
| Rank | Player | Salary |
| 1 | Arike Ogunbowale | $234,936 |
| Jewell Loyd | $234,936 | |
| 3 | DeWanna Bonner | $234,350 |
| Elena Delle Donne | $234,350 | |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | $234,350 | |
| 6 | Natasha Howard | $227,900 |
| 7 | Alyssa Thomas | $212,000 |
| 8 | Jonquel Jones | $211,150 |
| 9 | Kelsey Mitchell | $206,000 |
| 10 | Kahleah Copper | $205,000 |
The list could look different closer to the 2023 WNBA season. Why? Some of the WNBA's biggest stars are currently free agents in search of new contracts, including Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot.
When does WNBA free agency begin in 2023?
WNBA teams can talk to free agents starting on Jan. 21. Deals can't be officially signed until Feb. 1.
