A’ja Wilson signs record $4.7 million contract and redefines the WNBA salary market

WASHINGTON. – Star center A’ja Wilson agreed to a three-year, $4.7 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the most lucrative deal in WNBA history under the new collective bargaining agreement.

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The agreement stipulates that Wilson will receive $1.4 million in the 2026 season — the maximum allowed — with progressive increases until the total contract amount is completed. The figure represents a significant jump from his previous salary, multiplying by seven the income he earned in 2025. Considered one of the most dominant figures in women’s basketball, Wilson has built an impressive legacy with four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and three league championships with the Aces, establishing herself as the main axis of the franchise. Although other players have also signed maximum contracts under the new labor agreement, as is the case with Kelsey Mitchell with the Indiana Fever, Wilson is the only one who has secured a multi-year commitment of this economic level. The new collective bargaining agreement, reached in March after extensive negotiations between the league and the players’ union, marks a turning point in the WNBA. Among its main changes is the increase in the salary cap per team — from 1.5 to 7.5 million dollars — and a 20% distribution of the league’s profits among the players. This new scenario also impacts the new generations. The number one pick of the 2026 draft, Azzi Fudd, will earn close to $500,000 in her debut season, a figure considerably higher than in previous years. With this historic agreement, Wilson not only reaffirms its leadership on the court, but also positions itself as the face of a new era in professional women’s basketball, where economic conditions begin to reflect the growth and global relevance of the sport.