From WNBA free agency to veteran extensions, tracking the most lucrative deals signed by the stars of the W heading into the 2022 season
Players could technically begin negotiating with teams as early as Jan. 15, but the WNBA offseason period officially tipped off Tuesday — and following a breakthrough 2021 season that featured new ratings milestones and the first-ever Commissioner’s Cup, the money is already flowing ahead of the 2022 campaign.
With big names like league MVP Jonquel Jones and three-time All-Star Jewell Lloyd hitting unrestricted free agency and the Seattle Storm superstar duo of Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird running it back, it’s time to keep a running count of the richest contracts awarded throughout the offseason, from the restricted free agents hitting the market for the first time to the established vets re-upping for a run at glory.
But first, some housekeeping regarding the WNBA’s salary cap and max contracts as determined by the league’s collective bargaining agreement:
2022 WNBA salary cap: $1,379,2002 per team
2022 salary floor: $1,154,340
WNBA max salary: $228,094
Rookie minimum salary: $60,671
WNBA league average salary: ~$121,000
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Signings updated as of Feb. 3. All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Top 2022 WNBA Offseason Deals (Total Value)
- G Kelsey Mitchell (Re-signed with Indiana Fever): 3 years, $618,000
- F Myisha Hines-Allen (Re-signed with Washington Mystics): 3 years, $525,300
- C Mercedes Russell(Re-signed with Seattle Storm): 3 years, $480,000
- G Jewell Loyd (Re-signed with Seattle Storm): 2 years, $463,030
- F Jonquel Jones (Re-signed with Connecticut Sun): 2 years, $416,150
- G Kahlea Copper (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): 2 years, $405,000
- F A’ja Wilson (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): 2 years, $398,422
- C Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky→ New York Liberty): 2 years, $320,000
- G Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky→ Phoenix Mercury sign-and-trade): 2 years, $304,500
- G Riquna Williams (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): 2 years, $294,350
- G Rebecca Allen (Re-signed with New York Liberty): 2 years, $277,850
- F Breanna Stewart (Re-signed with Seattle Storm): 1 year, $228,094
- G Tiffany Hayes (Re-signed with Atlanta Dream): 1 year, $215,000
- C Sylvia Fowles (Re-signed with Minnesota Lynx): 1 year, $200,000
- G Courtney Vandersloot (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): 1 year, $195,000
- F Emma Meesseeman (Washington Mystics → Chicago Sky): 1 year, $185,000
- C Liz Cambage (Las Vegas Aces → Los Angeles Sparks): 1 year, $170,000
- F Emma Cannon (Re-signed with Indiana Fever): 2 years, $162,400
- F Gabby Williams (Chicago Sky → Los Angeles Sparks; traded to Seattle Storm): 1 year, $144,000
- G Briann January (Indiana Fever → Seattle Storm): 1 year, $140,000
- F Monique Billings (Re-signed with Atlanta Dream): 1 year, $140,000
- G Allie Quigley (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): 1 year, $135,000
- F Nia Coffey (Los Angeles Sparks → Atlanta Dream): 1 year, $130,000
- C Kiah Stokes (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): 1 year, $115,000
- C Tina Charles (Washington Mystics → Phoenix Mercury): 1 year, $108,000
Top 2022 WNBA Offseason Deals (Average Annual Value)
- G Jewell Loyd (Re-signed with Seattle Storm): $231,515 AAV
- F Breanna Stewart (Re-signed with Seattle Storm): $228,094 AAV
- G Tiffany Hayes (Re-signed with Atlanta Dream): $215,000 AAV
- F Jonquel Jones (Re-signed with Connecticut Sun): $208,075 AAV
- G Kelsey Mitchell (Re-signed with Indiana Fever): $206,000 AAV
- G Kahleah Copper (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): $202,500 AAV
- C Sylvia Fowles (Re-signed with Minnesota Lynx): $200,000 AAV
- F A’ja Wilson (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): $199,211 AAV
- G Courtney Vandersloot (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): $195,000 AAV
- F Emma Meesseeman (Washington Mystics → Chicago Sky): $185,000 AAV
- F Myisha Hines-Allen (Re-signed with Washington Mystics): $175,100 AAV
- C Liz Cambage (Las Vegas Aces → Los Angeles Sparks): $170,000 AAV
- C Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky→ New York Liberty): $160,000 AAV
- C Mercedes Russell(Re-signed with Seattle Storm): $160,000 AAV
- G Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky→ Phoenix Mercury sign-and-trade): $152,250 AAV
- G Riquna Williams (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): $147,175 AAV
- F Gabby Williams (Chicago Sky → Los Angeles Sparks; traded to Seattle Storm): $144,000
- G Briann January (Indiana Fever → Seattle Storm): $140,000 AAV
- F Monique Billings (Re-signed with Atlanta Dream): $140,000 AAV
- G Rebecca Allen (Re-signed with New York Liberty): $138,925 AAV
- G Allie Quigley (Re-signed with Chicago Sky): $135,000 AAV
- F Nia Coffey (Los Angeles Sparks → Atlanta Dream): $130,000 AAV
- C Kiah Stokes (Re-signed with Las Vegas Aces): $115,000 AAV
- C Tina Charles (Washington Mystics → Phoenix Mercury): $108,000 AAV
- G Jordin Canada (Seattle Storm → Los Angeles Sparks): $98,000 AAV
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