Caitlin Clark signed her name into WNBA history with the Indiana Fever—four years, $338,056. A generational talent with generational endorsements, she earned $11.1 million in 2024. But while Clark lit up the hardwood, the league’s own paycheck barely scratched the surface. Now, just a year later, Paige Bueckers is following a different playbook—one that might leave the WNBA on the bench.
Because in 2025, Paige Bueckers isn’t just making waves—she’s rewriting the playbook. Leaving basketball insiders stunned, Bueckers made a bold move, signing with the 12-week-old Unrivaled league before locking in her WNBA rookie deal. The twist? Her first-year Unrivaled salary will top her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract.
UConn on SNY put it bluntly on X: “Per @Kendra_Andrews, Paige Bueckers is signing a three-year deal with Unrivaled. Her first-year Unrivaled salary would be worth more than her entire rookie-scale deal in the WNBA.”
Per @Kendra_Andrews, Paige Bueckers is signing a three-year deal with Unrivaled.
Her first-year Unrivaled salary would be worth more than her entire rookie-scale deal in the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/4OLAtZ7e4g
— UConn on SNY (@SNYUConn) April 14, 2025
As the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, Bueckers’ first-year salary would be $78,831. But with Unrivaled, she’ll pocket over $330,000 for just 10 weeks. For a player destined to shine on the league’s biggest stage, this is just the beginning.
More to follow…..
The post WNBA in the Mud as Paige Bueckers Signs 3-Year Unrivaled Deal Which Gives UConn Star More Importance appeared first on EssentiallySports.
