The Las Vegas Aces have doubled down on their championship core — and in doing so, helped push the women’s game into a new financial era.
Las Vegas Aces are finalizing a one-year deal to bring back guard Jackie Young worth $1.19 million, making her the first player in league history to sign a contract exceeding the seven-figure mark.
The agreement, first reported by ESPN, keeps Young in Las Vegas on a standard maximum contract and signals how aggressively top WNBA franchises are now moving under the league’s new collective bargaining framework.
A New Salary Ceiling for the WNBA
The deal is structured under the maximum salary rules of the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, which has already begun reshaping free agency dynamics across the league.
While the contract is not a supermax extension, it still crosses a symbolic threshold: seven figures in guaranteed WNBA salary for the first time.
Competitive Pressure Rising Across the League
Young’s return comes amid a wave of roster maneuvering during early free agency, with teams using core designations and qualifying offers to retain top-tier talent.
Players including Sabrina Ionescu, Napheesa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale, and Kelsey Plum have already been designated as “core†players by their respective teams — a mechanism that gives franchises exclusive negotiating rights or trade leverage.
Aces Keep Their Championship Core Intact
For Las Vegas, the move is less about market-setting and more about continuity.
The franchise, fresh off another title run, is determined to preserve its core rotation rather than risk disruption in free agency — a strategy that has defined its dominance in recent seasons.
Young’s decision to remain without exploring other teams further reinforces that stability.
A Symbolic Moment for Women’s Basketball
Beyond roster construction, the contract represents a broader shift in women’s sports economics.
As media rights, sponsorship, and global attention increase, elite players in the WNBA are beginning to approach — and in some cases break — long-standing salary barriers.
For now, Jackie Young stands alone at the top of that curve.