And Diana and Sue Bird were instrumental in seeing to it that members of Team USA were paid decent wages for their training. Stephen Curry became the first player to eclipse $40 million per year when he signed a record 5-year contract worth $201 million in 2017, starting with $34,682,550 in the 2017-18 season and ending with the largest earnings in the 2021-22 season with a record payout of $45,780,966, If his contract continues Curry is expected to be the first player to eclipse $50 million in the (2023-24) season. Her decision came in spite of a panel of league-appointed doctors who would not deem her medically excused from play in the WNBA Bubble, which would have allowed the Mystics to withhold her 2020 salary. No matter how you slice it, the pay gap in the WNBA versus the NBA is remarkable. In Australia, she currently plays for the Southside Flyers. The Phoenix Mercury boast three supermax playersand yes, one of them, at long last, is Diana Taurasi. Jalen Wilson is a forward for the Kansas University Jayhawks mens basketball team, who has an NIL value of $914,000.Wilson has been a star for the Jayhawks, averaging 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his freshman season. Hansel Enmanuel is the highest-earning college basketball player with an NIL value of $1.5 million.Enmanuel, who was born with no left arm, is from the Dominican Republic and attends Northwestern State University.He amassed 1.6 million Instagram followers, and 2.7 million TikTok followers, much from his high school basketball highlight videos going viral.Fans across the world were inspired by Enmanuels story as well as his ridiculous athletic ability. Last month, Hammon reportedly became the highest paid coach in the WNBA, according to The Associated Press, though her annual salary figure was not disclosed at the time. And its easy to see that theres a good chance Candace made close to $1.5 million dollars during her overseas reign. And has never come off the bench! 1-4 in the 2022 WNBA Draft, the base salary is expected to be $72,141 in year one. Young is set to make $252,450 this season.. Top 10 highest paid players in the WNBA. And I take my off-season and use it to explore other opportunitieslike my basketball camps. And Jay Zs company has boded well for Skylar. She signed a two year $463,030 contract last offseason, giving her an annual salary of $231,515. Diggins was drafted third overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft. Bailey has 567,000 followers on Instagram, commanding a large social media presence.Bailey is signed to Roc Nation Sports, and so far has just one deal with Ethika. In 2022, the highest paid WNBA players are Breanna Stewart, DeWanna Bonner, Jewell Loyd, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi. In the afterglow of a hard-fought championship, 2019 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne re-signed with the Washington Mystics in the 2020 offseason to a well-deserved supermax deal. Skylar Diggins . Although WNBA salaries seem low compared to other athletes, WNBA players typically play basketball year round, spending the WNBA offseason touring Europe and doubling, or sometimes tripling, their salary. She has been with the Dream since she first entered the league in 2o12 after being selected 14th overall in the draft. She made $1.5 million per season with the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. The Larry Bird exception, more commonly known as Bird Rights, allows teams to re-sign a current player only if he has played for that particular team for a minimum of three years. Which Colleges Have Had The Most NBA Players? And shes got her own media company Togethxr along with three other star athletes. In 2020, the top WNBA base salary was $215,000; in 2019, the top WNBA base salary was $117,500. These seven players. Top 25 Highest Paid WNBA Players in 2022 & Ever, Breanna Stewart: Seattle Storm $228,094, Diana Taurasi: Phoenix Mercury $228,094, Brittney Griner: Phoenix Mercury $227,900, DeWanna Bonner: Connecticut Sun $227,900, Elena Delle Donne: Washington Mystics $227,900, Skylar Diggins-Smith: Phoenix Mercury $227,900, Natasha Howard: New York Liberty $221,450, Alyssa Thomas: Connecticut Sun $206,000, Jonquel Jones: Connecticut Sun $205,000, Kelsey Mitchell: Indiana Fever $200,000, Betnijah Laney: New York Liberty $196,267, Nneka Ogwumike: Los Angeles Sparks $196,267, Kristi Toliver: Los Angeles Sparks $196,100, Courtney Vandersloot: Chicago Sky $195,000, Cheyenne Parker: Atlanta Dream $190,550. She was drafted first overall in the 2015 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. A Quick History of WNBA Profitability. Thanks to the hard-fought increases in the 2020 CBA (thank you Nneka! WNBA Salary Rankings Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active WNBA players. New Mexico State Basketball Team Bio And Facts, Saint Peters Basketball Team Bio And Facts, Syracuse Orange vs Duke Blue Devils Basketball Rivalry, Syracuse Orange vs Georgetown Hoyas College Basketball Rivalry, Top 10 Best Kentucky College Basketball Players, Top 10 Best North Carolina Basketball Players, Top 10 College Basketball Rivalries of All Time, Top 10 Highest Paid College Basketball Coaches, Top 10 Highest Paid College Basketball Players, Top 6 Best Men's College Basketball Coaches of All Time, Top 6 Best Men's College Basketball Programs of All Time, Top 6 Best Women's College Basketball Coaches of All Time, Top 6 Best Women's College Basketball Teams of All Time. Elena Delle Donne is making around $224,870 this year from contract salaries. Therefore in the last section when we compared the average WNBA salary to the average NBA salary, we were comparing the salaries of the top 144 womens players to the salaries of the top 360 mens players. Not only did she win regular season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, but her team won the Commissioners Cup and the WNBA Finals. Bates has been compared to all time great players such as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Elena Delle Donne - 227,900 dollars. In the NBA world, weve reduced salary costs to buying wins. Liz also plays for Australian and international teams during the WNBA off-season. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd and Seattle forward Breanna Stewart are the highest-paid players in the WNBA,. 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 highest paid player this season is, you guessed itJewell Loyd. She recently starred in some CarMax commercials. Diana struck a deal with BodyArmor, a sports drink, in 2018, which she still endorses today. Parker was an All-Star at age 36 last year after posting averages of 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 32 games. In June 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the NCAA was no longer allowed to prevent education-related payments to students, which changed college sports forever.This paved the way for NIL deals, which allowed college athletes to profit on their own name, image, and likeness through endorsements and brand deals.A combination of a strong social media following off the court, and good play on the court can result in players receiving millions of dollars in NIL deals per season. The highest player topping our list in total earnings ever is Candace Parker whos at $5.7 million per year. Shes also currently a member of Team USA. Hammon was an assistant coach for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs for eight seasons before making the leap to become a head coach in the WNBA. She was drafted by Phoenix first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft. Candace also has a lucrative contract as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports. Another big name to move in free agency was Breanna Stewart. So its no mystery why shes one of the leagues top earners. It's a large turn from Major League Baseball, where its top player, Max Scherzer makes roughly 10 times more than the. She played for Dallas Wings from the beginning of her career before making a move to Phoenix Mercury in 2020 for which she is currently playing for. Outside of Young, other names on the list of the highest-paid WNBA players include Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings, Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury guard Skylar Diggins. The average salary for a professional basketball player (NBA) is about 5.15 Million per year, MLB (baseball) 3.2 Million yearly, NHL (Hockey) 2.4 Million, NFL (Football) 1.9 Million yearly. Breanna earns approximately $1.5 million per season overseas reported ESPN. You might find some affiliate links on our website which are part of advertisement on this website. DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins-Smith aren't far behind. Heres everything you need to know about salaries in the WNBA (all numbers via Spotrac): In terms of base salaries, three athletes are tied for the highest-paid player in the WNBA: Seattle Storm stars Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart and Phoenix Mercury icon Diana Taurasi. Shaqir ONeal is one of the highest earning college basketball players with an NIL value of $1.1 million.Son of legendary NBA center, Shaquille ONeal, Shaqir is a freshman at Texas Southern University. Here are the complete details about the top 10 highest paid WNBA players in the world along with their salaries and contracts. NBA players get paid more because their league makes more money, full stop. In 2020, the Women's National Basketball Association came to termson a new collective bargaining agreement that included significant salary bumps. During her enviable pro career thus far, Brittney has been a 6-time WNBA All-Star. And has had deals with State Farm and American Express in the past. In 2022, Breanna Stewart will earn a base salary of$228,094. WNBA Highest Paid Players in 2020 DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun) - $215,000. Meanwhile, just for reference, tennis phenom Naomi Osaka comes in at $57.3 million according to Forbes. And they might feel threatened to share their salary information with peers who they feel they are competing for dollars with. Why? Considering Liz was making $117,500 in that year, a quick calculation tells us that her overseas contracts have been close to $1 million dollars a year. And being named to the 2020 All-WNBA Second Team adds another merit bonus to her cap. To receive email updates when new articles are posted, use the subscription form below! In spite of the Suns disappointing loss in the WNBA Finals, Bonner enjoyed an efficient postseason that saw her come up clutch in the semifinals against the Chicago Sky. One way to evaluate how well professional womens basketball players are paid is to look at how the WNBA salaries compare to the total income of the league. Breanna Stewart, F, Seattle Storm; $228,094 3. And she deserves every bit of it. Do the math (well take an average 2019 salary of WNBA players at nearly $75,000). Derek Brunson vs Dricus Du Plessis Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from Potential Bonus Money? Who Is The Most Famous Athlete In The World Right Now. At 41 years old, Sue Bird will have been in the league for an astonishing 19 seasons and 20 years in 2022, breaking records and dazzling fans all over the world. Below are the WNBA players who are paid the highest. She is holding the most ludicrous contract deal with WNBAs club. Double trouble. However, we think the discrepancy is larger than it should be based on viewership and appetite for womens professional sports. Of course, athletes dont always see all their endorsement earnings in a single year, but weve included the guesstimated total amount for simplification. The American professional basketball player signed a worthy contract with Phoenix Mercury earning her $224,870 yearly, contributing greatly to her total net worth of $400k. If you buy something from a link on our site, Queen Ballers Club may earn a commission. Sue is one of the few WNBA stars who have endorsement deals. Who is the highest-paid player in the WNBA? She's a sensational player. Get ready for the 2023 WNBA season: Save 23% on your subscription! Some argue that if not for the brilliant rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the league might not be anywhere near where it was today. WNBA stars Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, andJewell Loyd earn the most money in the WNBA, puttingthemamongthe highest paid athletesof all time. In the NBA, the same ratio is about 4.7. Surprise! Would you be willing to send a $5 tip to our Venmo tip jar because it helps support this site and our reporting? Mia Mastrov is one of the highest earning college basketball players, with an NIL value of $375,000.Mastrov is a sophomore guard at the University of California. Yahoo! So today, we break down potential revenue streams for our favorite female athletes. Deals can't be officially signed until Feb. 1. These seven players will each earn a base supermax salary of $221,450 for the 2021 WNBA season. No doubt, this WNBA veteran is a superstar. This is over half of the average viewership for an average NFL game, the undisputed king of American sports from a viewership and revenue perspective. Hailey Van Lith is one of the highest earning college basketball players, with an NIL value of $526,000.Van Lith, who is a junior point guard at Louisville, is known as one of the best college basketball players in the nation. The current record-holder for most points scored in a WNBA game an astonishing 53 points! She is currently recovering from a torn ACL. After Delle Donne went public with her disgust at the situation, the Mystics backtracked and promised to pay her to stay home. It isnt the WNBAs fault necessarily; networks are wary of showing and advertising for games they think will be less profitable. But award money calculations are based off of 2020 results. In Dallas, guard Allisha Gray ($164,800) will be the top earner on a youthful Wings team set to be held down by its burgeoning superstarsArike Ogunbowale ($72,141) and Satou Sabally ($76,297) will have to wait until at least 2023 for the substantial pay rises they deserve. While these might not necessarily be the exact total pay figures for players, we did the best we could directionally. Most recently, her impact was big enough on and off the court to net her Sports Illustrateds Sportsperson of the Year. The $898,700 contract Natasha Howard signed the following year ranks fourth all-time. However, in order to help the Storm retain key talent in 2022, Sue took at pay cut down to a mere $72,141. True W fans know that Elena Delle Donne has been one of the top earners in the W for a hot minute, and it's well deserved. No matter what is the sport, there is always a pay gap between the mens and womens event. The WNBA may be a league on the rise, but its players pay is low. [4] Next, the bi-annual exception can be used by teams every other year to sign a free agent(s) for up to two years at an amount set by the NBA. We arrived at that modest figure by calculating that far more than an average overseas salary of $400,000 equals at least $1 million. Viviane Araujo vs Amanda Ribas Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from PPV Money & Bonuses? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delle Donne, a longtime Lyme disease patient, elected to sit out the 2020 season due to her susceptibility to the virus. 1- Liz Cambage; The Highest Paid WNBA Player Liz Cambage plays in the Las Vegas Aces and is 29 years old. However, some still manage to make 6 figures for their incredible performances. As we dive into the salaries of WNBA players, however, the difference is stark. Given those achievements, it makes perfect sense that Skylar is paid top-dollar. Thats why, for office professionals for example, sites that provide pay transparency like Glassdoor have been so clutch in addressing pay gaps. Through a sign-and-trade deal between Phoenix and Dallas (for whom she was a designated core player), point guard Diggins-Smith was able to sign a four-year supermax contract with the Mercury in February 2020. In terms of base salaries, three athletes are tied for the highest-paid player in the WNBA: Seattle Storm stars. AP Photo/Ashley Landis Las Vegas Aces A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray ($196,267) A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray. So helping everyone win higher paid overseas contracts and endorsements is actually lucrative for everyone in the long run. So that she wouldnt get injured and not be able to play for UMMC. Each had a salary of $228,094 for this season. Kobe Bryant became just the second player to reach $30 million when the 201314 season began. In recent years, the popularity of the league has been increasing dramatically. Taurasi was actually the fourth-highest earner on her team last year, and took home nearly 35% less than sixth woman Bria Hartley did. The WNBA may be following a similar trajectory. Becky Hammon, Aja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner and soon Paige Bueckers are on the precipice of becoming household names, of entering the zeitgeist of sports. A'ja Wilson has a long and illustrious career ahead of her. Hansel Enmanuel. A multi-year deal means big bucks and a big bet, so lets add in another $1 million for her sponsorship. Ogunbowale's salary for the 2023 campaign is closest to Young's at $241,984. Young was the Aces' first overall pick in 2019 and has been critical for the reigning WNBA champions. Plum had a spectacular regular season that even saw her claim the all-star game MVP this year. She has 1 million followers on Instagram, 465,000 on TikTok, and 77,000 on Twitter.She is expected to be a top pick in the WNBA Draft, whenever she declares. The salary cap is determined during the offseason, but as stated earlier, it is liable to change.[2]. Magic Johnson became the first player to earn $10 million or more in the 94-95 season with a salary of $14,660,000. Shes a American small forward for Washington Mystics in WNBA, joining the team in 2017. Also in the top 10 richest contracts in WNBA history are Storm legend Sue Bird and Mercury star Brittney Griner. Brittney Griners ongoing detention is Russia, This is a great book detailing the history of professional Womens basketball, The Highest WNBA salary is $228,000 while in the NBA its over $45 million. 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. A teacher makes approximately $35,000-$55,000 yearly. The base max salary is $190,550. So she will now receive close to $100,000 to train for United States. While Diana no longer plays overseas, her career there was an extremely lucrative one. Why Do College Basketball Teams Cut Down The Net? In 2022, shell make $227,900 from her Phoenix Mercury contract. The salary cap, which is regarded as a hard cap, stands at $1,339,000; this amount of money is distributed among 11 or 12 players on each of 12 rosters. Known for her amazing ability to win championships (she has four WNBA titles under her belt) as well as accolades too numerous to mention (okay, well mention that shes the all-time WNBA assists leader and an 11-time All-Star, to name just two), the superstar point guard has started in 508 games. There is simply no reason that womens college basketball should bring in more money than womens professional basketball. Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is set to earn a highest base salary in 2022-23 at $48.07 million. In her career, she has played exceptionally well and has generated enough revenue from contracts as well as merchandise sales. Heres to hoping and praying we see her on the court this year. 4. The perpetually rebuilding New York Liberty traded for the three-time champ and 2019 DefensivePlayer of the Year Natasha Howard, whom they will reward with $221,000 this year; the Libs also scored 2020 Wubble breakthrough star Betnijah Laney in free agency, and she, in turn, will take home a max salary of $190,550. And did we mention that shes also the leagues all-time highest scorer? The lowest-paid player in the WNBA is Mercury's Kaela Davis. The highest paid WNBA player in 2022 is every hooper making the $228,094 supermax which includes Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd. At the age of 32, Elena is still giving brilliant performance and winning games for her team. WNBA Salary Rankings | Spotrac WNBA Salary Rankings Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active WNBA players. Who are therichest womenbasketball players? Also, there was no 2020 All-Star game, which wouldve netted players chosen a bonus of $2,575. Her contract salary from the club is $228,094. For the first few years of the league's history, it was so unpopular that the NBA had to subsidize the operating cost of their female counterpart. The duo of Stewart and Loyd have earned their spots not only as some of the top players in the W, but they are both tied for the number two spot in the list of top WNBA earners at $228,094. its no wonder why Liz Cambages earnings ar eup there. They are Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd. Where she made 10-20 times more than her WNBA salary! The professional game is of an indisputably higher quality than the college game. Delle Donnes highly anticipated return to competition has the W community on the edge of their seatsas the star forward has been sidelined for nearly two years now. The minimum salary for an WNBA player with two years of service will rise from $42,728 annually to $57,000 beginning in 2020. Elena. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Plum remains a seminal piece for the Aces, as they regularly look at her to break interior defenders and draw fouls on opposing defenses. Check out all the highest paid WNBA players below, and come back when new WNBA starssign newcontracts to see how their salaries stack up! In high school, she was the National Gatorade . Stewart was the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft and was named the 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Candace Parker is the first big name to join a new team in free agency. Hanna Cavinder is the highest earning womens NCAA basketball player, with an NIL value of $846,000.Cavinder is a senior point guard at the University of Miami.She has amassed 4.7 million followers across all social media, making her the most followed college basketball athlete.Her 4.2 million TikTok followers makes her one of the most popular college athletes in the United States. Diana Lorena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia. The highest paid players in the WNBA in 2022 are those with super-maximum contracts. She has 1.2 million followers across all platforms.Johnson has endorsement deals with HighlightHER, Puma, Meta, Taco Bell, and POWERHANDZ.Johnson is also a rapper who announced her commitment to LSU in her own song. He has deals with Adidas, Campus Ink, Merchants Bank of Indiana, Turnstone Center, and Push Paddle or Pedal. Breannas team, the Seattle Storm, won the 2020 WNBA Championship. (66 kg) Skylar Diggins-Smith is a WNBA standout who receives a salary of $221,450, making her one of the four highest-paid WNBA players in the league. But that doesnt mean that the average WNBA salary should be so low that its employees are compelled to play year round in overseas leagues, often in parts of the world that many Americans would not want to visit themselves. Adding to her wallet, Diana also makes $20,000-$30,000 per speaking engagement. Data provided by HighPostHoops.com 2023 Average Rankings At the end of the day, salaries have to be related to revenue. She has also, Breanna Mackenzie Stewart (ne Baldwin; born August 27, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). But first, lets jump into the basics for this year. In 2021, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith, DeWanna Bonner, and Liz Cambage were the highest paid WBNA players. Putting $5,150 in Skylars pocket. As they say, acandlelosesnothingbylighting another candle. She is famous for her multiple abilities and incredible guarding at the point region. By looking at viewership for womens college basketball, we argue that the revenue gap between the WNBA and the NBA can be closed. Third rounders and undrafted rookies will receive . Timme is a two-time Second-Team All-American, a two-time First-Team All-WCC selection, and the 2022 WCC Player of the Year. The lowest-paid player in the WNBA is Mercurys. He has deals with Dollar Shave Club, Walkers Furniture, Goli Nutrition, and Preediction. This is a great book detailing the history of professional Womens basketball. And she was the WNBA Finals MVP (which probably doesnt get the $15,450 the season MVP gets). Due to injuries and the pandemic, Delle Donne has only registered three games over the last two seasons. Skylar Diggins-Smith - $221,450. However, WNBA teams are just trying to stay afloat because the current market doesnt reward the best teams for winning. The Las Vegas Aces big three of Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, and Kelsey Plum all sit somewhere in the top 30 WNBA players salary list, and for good reason. Cavinder has endorsement deals with Under Armour, Raising Canes, Intuit TurboTax, and Victoria's Secret PINK. The problem is just that the WNBA isnt pushed as well as it could be. 2023 Salary: $234,350. Each player is making the supermax salary of $228,094. Here's the list of the top 25 highest paid players in the WNBA in 2022: Breanna Stewart: Seattle Storm - $228,094 Diana Taurasi: Phoenix Mercury - $228,094 Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm - $228,094 Brittney Griner: Phoenix Mercury - $227,900 DeWanna Bonner: Connecticut Sun - $227,900 Elena Delle Donne: Washington Mystics - $227,900 Check out the highest-paid player on each WNBA team for the 2022 campaign below: Dallas Wings Moriah Jefferson ($180,200) Moriah Jefferson. We believe that not only are WNBA players underpaid relative to their current league revenue, we also believe that the WNBA as a league could do much, much more to increase its revenue. While we have cited some numbers above that indicate that players in the W are underpaid even relative to current revenue, the point is that the leagues revenue is not where it should be. Jackie Young, the highest-paid WNBA player As of February, the title of the highest-paid WNBA player belongs to Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces. Subscribe to get the latest articles first. Some have argued that even with their current paltry salaries, WNBA players are overpaid. Salaries will continue to rise in the years to come, as the WNBA's salary cap will increase by three percent annually. Paige Bueckers is one of the highest earning college basketball players, with an NIL value of $822,000.Bueckers, a junior, is a star guard at the University of Connecticut. A top-WNBA scorer, Skylar has been shooting hoops in the league since 2013. As detailed by CNBC, the average pay for a WNBA player in the season prior to the new agreement was around $116,000. The LA Sparks, who lost superstars Parker and Gray in the offseason, will pay Kristi Toliver andWNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike max salaries of $190,550 each this year. Last season Loyd averaged 17.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals, earning her All-WNBA First team honors. Heres why: The WNBA is a 12 team league versus the NBA being a 30 team league. Be the first one to comment on this story. Elsewhere around the league, star players are enjoying new lucrative contracts. Im with Roc Nation, where Im the only woman signed. There might not be an NBA at all. While her endorsement pay (including TV commercials) has been kept private, well take a modest estimate of $250,000. Please logout and login again. Brittney signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike seven years ago in her rookie year. Hopefully Elena Delle Donne can return to 100% in the near future. WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military | How It Impact Their Careers In Wrestling? In fact, Deloitte predicts elite womens sport revenues could top almost a billion dollars next year. [3] Another exception, known as the mid-level exception, allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary. Phoenix Mercury teammates Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brittany Griner are not far behind on the richest woman basketball players list. Trayce Jackson-Davis is a senior forward for the Indiana Hoosiers, who has an NIL value of $886,000.He was a highly touted prospect out of high school, being named to the McDonalds All-American Team.