In October, the Chicago Sky broke through. Led by series MVP Kahlea Copper, three-time All-Star Courtney Vandersloot, and all-time legend Candace Parker, they earned their first-ever WNBA championship three games to one over the loaded Phoenix Mercury — a team that enters 2022 with three of the top-four highest-paid players in the WNBA.
But entering the new season, which begins on May 6, who earns the distinction of being the league’s most expensive player? Along with Mercury icon Diana Taurasi, two additional ballers are locked into the WNBA’s max salary, exactly $228,094 for the year.
With that in mind, check out Boardroom’s list of the highest-paid WNBA players for the 2022 season by total salary compensation.
The WNBA Draft takes place Monday, April 11, and with that, the 2022-2023 WNBA season is right around the corner. Following the massive uptick in viewership for the 2022 Women’s NCAA Championship game (the most-viewed college basketball game, men’s or women’s, since 2008), the WNBA could be set for an all-time season.
10. Jewell Loyd, SEA — $231,515
Jewell Loyd (born October 5, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Perfumerias Avenida of Spain’s Liga Femenina de Baloncesto and the Seattle Storm of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted first overall in the 2015 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. She played college basketball at Notre Dame.
9. Breanna Stewart, SEA — $228,094
Breanna Mackenzie Stewart (born Baldwin; born August 27, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
In high school, Stewart was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and a McDonald’s All-American. She led the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies to four national championships, was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player a record four times, and was a three-time consensus national player of the year.
8. Elena Delle Donne, WAS — $224,870
Elena Delle Donne (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Delle Donne played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens from 2009 to 2013.
She was drafted by the Chicago Sky with the second overall pick of the 2013 WNBA draft, and led the Sky to the 2014 WNBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Phoenix Mercury. Delle Donne was traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017 and led them to their first WNBA championship in 2019.
7. Dewanna Bonner, CON — $224,870
DeWanna Bonner (born August 21, 1987) is an American-Macedonian professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Bonner played college basketball for Auburn University. After a successful college career at Auburn, she was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the fifth overall pick of the 2009 WNBA draft, and was traded to the Sun 11 years later.
6. Skylar Diggins-Smith, PHX — $224,870
Skylar Kierra Diggins-Smith (born August 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Diggins was drafted third overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft. In high school, she was the National Gatorade Player of the Year and the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year. Diggins played point guard for Notre Dame, where she led Notre Dame to three consecutive Final Fours and two consecutive NCAA championship appearances. She finished her Notre Dame career ranked first in points and steals, second in assists, and as a two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation.
5. Diana Taurasi, PHX — $224,772
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). She was drafted by Phoenix first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft. Taurasi has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2004), three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, and 2014), a historic five Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020),one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (2009), two WNBA Finals MVP Awards (2009 and 2014), five scoring titles (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011), and three FIBA World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2018).
4. Natasha Howard, NY — $224,675
Natasha Howard (born September 2, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Dynamo Kursk of the Russian Premier League. Howard was the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She was drafted in 2014 by the Indiana Fever. Born in Toledo, Ohio, she played college basketball for Florida State University, where she finished sixth in the NCAA for field goal percentage.
3. Brittney Griner, PHX — $221,515
Brittney Yevette Griner (born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women’s national basketball team and a six-time WNBA All-Star.
In 2009, Griner was named the nation’s No. 1 high school women’s basketball player by Rivals.com. She was selected to the 2009 All-American basketball team. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas.
2. Tiffany Hayes, ATL — $215,000
Tiffany Kiara Hayes (born September 20, 1989) is an American-Azerbaijani professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1] Hayes played college basketball for the Connecticut Huskies, playing for the 2009 and 2010 NCAA National Champions.Hayes was born September 20, 1989 in Fort Polk, a town in western Louisiana to Dorothy and Renard Hayes. Her siblings are Jerron and Dontae Hayes, and Latisha Jones.
1. Alyssa Thomas, CON — $209,000
Alyssa Thomas (born April 12, 1992) is an American professional basketball forward for the Connecticut Sun of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. The New York Liberty drafted Thomas 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA draft, and immediately traded her to the Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a 2015 first-round draft pick in exchange for Tina Charles. Thomas is the University of Maryland’s all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles for both the women’s and men’s programs, and one of only three athletes in NCAAW history with six career triple-doubles. Thomas is the only WNBA player to record four triple-doubles, which she did during the 2022 season.