The 6 Wealthiest WNBA Players Changing the Game in 2025
For years, discussions about the WNBA have circled the same issues: limited salaries, the need for players to compete overseas, and women’s sports being undervalued. As 2025 wraps up, that long-standing narrative is finally shifting.
The league’s financial growth has been explosive. With its valuation jumping by nearly 180%, the WNBA is now estimated to be worth about $3.5 billion. Today’s top players are no longer defined solely by their on-court performances—they are powerful brands with global influence.
This transformation has been driven by the Caitlin Clark effect and a major redirection by brands like Nike, Puma, and Reebok toward women-led signature products. The conversation has moved beyond whether WNBA players can earn a living. The real question now is how far their empires can grow.
Forbes reports that in 2025, the top female athletes earned over 72% of their income through endorsements and business ventures, while male athletes generated around 71% of their earnings from salaries. Although the pay gap remains clear, the pace of growth suggests the WNBA is closing in on a new financial era.
1. Caitlin Clark
Estimated Net Worth: $12.1 million
Caitlin Clark leads the list by a wide margin. According to Forbes, nearly all of her earnings—about $12 million—come from off-court ventures, while her rookie WNBA salary sits at $78,000.
Selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in 2024, Clark landed an eight-year, $28 million Nike deal that includes her own signature shoe. With additional partnerships involving State Farm, Gatorade, and Wilson, she has successfully converted collegiate NIL buzz into a professional business powerhouse.
2. Sabrina Ionescu
Estimated Net Worth: $10.5 million
Ranked 13th on Forbes’ 2025 highest-paid female athletes list, Sabrina Ionescu has built her fortune largely beyond the court. While her WNBA salary is approximately $200,000, her biggest earnings come from her partnership with Nike.
Signed in 2020 in a deal reportedly worth $24 million, her Sabrina 1 and Sabrina 2 sneakers have become widely popular—so much so that they’re regularly worn by NBA players, giving her brand rare crossover appeal.
3. Angel Reese
Estimated Net Worth: $9.4 million
Angel Reese, famously nicknamed “Chi Barbie,” has openly joked that her WNBA paycheck doesn’t cover her lifestyle. With a four-year contract worth $324,383, her annual salary averages just over $80,000.
Still, Reese’s financial success tells a different story. Forbes estimates her net worth at $9.4 million, driven by endorsement deals with Reebok, Hershey’s, Cash App, McDonald’s, and Beats by Dre. Her social media presence has proven to be just as valuable as her production on the court.
4. Paige Bueckers
Estimated Net Worth: $9.1 million
The top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers quickly lived up to expectations. She captured Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, while shooting nearly 48% over 36 games.
Bueckers is also a marketing standout. With endorsement deals involving Nike, Gatorade, Dunkin’, Bose, Crocs, and her involvement with Unrivaled, she remains one of the most sought-after athletes in women’s sports.
5. Breanna Stewart
Estimated Net Worth: $5 million
Breanna Stewart continues to thrive as one of the league’s most established stars. In 2025, she earned $208,400 in base salary, plus performance bonuses tied to her Olympic success.
Her partnership with Puma has been a major financial driver. The Stewie signature shoe line has become a staple in basketball culture, anchoring much of her estimated $5 million net worth alongside her New York Liberty contract and overseas investments.
6. Brittney Griner
Estimated Net Worth: $5 million
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Brittney Griner’s fortune in 2025 stands at roughly $5 million. She signed a one-year, $214,466 deal with the Atlanta Dream, positioning herself well for the upcoming 2026 CBA negotiations.
Her move to Atlanta renewed her domestic visibility, while long-term partnerships with Nike, Gatorade, and T-Mobile continue to reinforce her influence as one of the most recognizable figures in women’s basketball.
