For most WNBA players, the yearly stretch of basketball continues even after the season concludes. A majority of the athletes take their talents overseas to compensate for the lower pay in the game in America compared to their male counterparts in the NBA. Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson did so too, but vows never to do it again.
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In the WNBA, the average salary is $102,249. That number is even lower for players on their rookie contracts. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark isn’t even earning six figures as her annual salary. For her role in the 2025 season, the two-time All-Star will earn $78,066.
Clark, however, can compensate for her low WNBA contract with her lucrative endorsement deals. Unfortunately, Las Vegas Aces star Wilson entered the WNBA at a time when there weren’t as many eyes on the league. Following her rookie season, she made the swift decision to earn more money overseas.
After the 2018 campaign, Wilson signed with the Shaanxi Red Wolves of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association. Her experience opened her eyes to the difficulties of playing overseas.
“I feel like it was a point in time in the WNBA where if you didn’t go overseas, everyone’s looking at you like, ‘Girl, what’s wrong with you?'” Wilson said on Boardroom Talks.
Wilson felt the pressure from her peers to play overseas. It also didn’t help that she was earning $58,045 annually from her rookie contract. But then, she soon realized how tough it is out there.
“It’s a completely different mindset to play overseas. It is no joke and not to be played with. I have the utmost respect for all the women of the W that play overseas and still come back and play,” Wilson added.
After her experience in China, playing for the Red Wolves during the 2018-2019 offseason, Wilson made it clear to her management at Klutch that she didn’t want to pursue it again. So her agent, Jade-Li English, figured out a path for her to ensure income and succeed in America.
“I love my village at Klutch and my agency that really helped me still blossom in the States. I can be able to stay in the States and still make money. I’m grateful that I’m here every time,” Wilson said.
So, how did Klutch create a path for Wilson to earn well in America as a WNBA player? The answer is simple. Endorsement deals.
When Wilson arrived in the WNBA in 2018, she signed a sneaker deal with Nike. In 2024, she signed a six-figure deal with the company that is said to be “one of the richest shoe deals” in the women’s game.
For context, Clark’s deal with Nike is reportedly around $28 million over eight years. It’s safe to assume Wilson’s deal is in the same realm. Of course, Wilson’s skill and talent allow her to land such opportunities.
Other WNBA players who are role players don’t have the same luxury. Until the league increases the wages of its athletes, many will continue to go overseas. If the rising popularity of the WNBA suggests anything, it is that change may come sooner than later.
