The 2026 WNBA Draft, held Monday night in New York, marked a financial turning point for the league as a new collective bargaining agreement dramatically increased rookie earnings and overall salary structure.
Under the new CBA, the No. 1 overall pick will earn $500,000 in her first season, a massive jump from last year’s top rookie salary of $78,831. The No. 2 pick will make $466,913, while the No. 3 selection will earn $436,016. Even second- and third-round players who make rosters are expected to earn at least $270,000—higher than the previous season’s maximum salary.
The WNBA salary cap also surged from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026, paving the way for the league’s first million-dollar contracts and significantly improving rookie and veteran compensation across the board.
Top prospects linked to the draft include UConn’s Azzi Fudd, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Spain’s Awa Fam, and TCU’s Olivia Miles, though mock drafts remained unsettled up to draft day. Several UCLA championship contributors were also expected to be selected.
The draft comes amid major league expansion, with Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo adding new roster spots, while free agency reshaped the league with several high-profile moves including Satou Sabally to the New York Liberty and Brittney Griner to the Connecticut Sun.
With expanded teams, a new salary structure, and rising star power, the 2026 class is widely seen as the most financially significant rookie group in WNBA history.