Money issue in WNBA less than people realize.
Current rookie salary is $80,000.
If it goes up 3x new 2026 rookie salary could be $240,000.
That's nice, but it will still be a lot less than Azzi's earnings from sponsors in the WNBA. (Chipotle, Nerf, Biosteel, American Eagle etc...)
The big sponsor of course is Under Armour & their Curry Brand, where she is in line for a shoe. Conservatively, she will earn $2 million+ from her sponsors in her WNBA season 1!
Similarly Nika earned $80,000 in player salary for the Storm. Just her work for Mazda would pay $250,000 to $1million, depending if Mazda is using that film also in Croatia/Europe.
Therefore, the solution on how to improve earnings in today's world is to have your agent go find another sponsor, rather than waiting for the still small player salary to increase.
Someone will probably ask the question: 'why would a sponsor sign Azzi, Paige, or Nika before they are established WNBA players?'
3 reasons: 1- cheaper to sign them now than wait for them to get more expensive, 2- due UConn/NCAA/high school/social media, these three are already household names. 3- potential. Particularly, Azzi&Paige are viewed by the sports marketing industry to be faces of WBB for next 10-15 years. Despite injuries and inconsistency, experts are comfortable that Azzi will deliver at WNBA level and are willing to pay up front for it.
Azzi's choice of pro/college will be mostly about basketball and less about money. She is pretty much in a no lose situation...as long as she stays fit.
