The WNBA Is Fashionably Underpaid
The WNBA season may be over, but the players are just getting started.
Breakout stars and legends alike have made headlines in the fashion world, further dominating their presence in the spotlight. The impact that basketball has had on women’s sports as a whole, as well as the growing passion among players for fashion, has ignited broader conversations, mainly surrounding their contracts.
Angel Reese recently announced that she will be walking the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 15th, solidifying her spot as the first professional athlete to do so. In addition to this, the Chicago Sky competitor also debuted her newest collaboration with Juicy Couture, featuring a 40-inch inseam for tall girls, as well as a Reebok collection.
In other news, four-time MVP, WNBA champion, and Olympic gold medalist A’ja Wilson has also made waves with her Nike deal, almost selling out her signature shoe, which contains fourteen colorways.
Their pay, or the lack thereof, has been a topic for quite some time. It puts things into perspective when these phenomenal women make more in endorsement deals than in their full-time careers. For reference, A’ja Wilson has a four-year $200,000 contract. Compared to NBA superstar Stephen Curry, who also has a four-year contract, accumulating a staggering $215,353,664, roughly $53.9 million per year.
Could their newfound attention in the fashion industry be what they need to get the salaries they rightfully deserve?
Similar to the NBA, the WNBA participates in tunnel walks, displaying unique and inspiring fashion. This, in turn, generates endorsement deals, as this puts players and the designs they showcase on the map. This helps to build relationships with said brands, increasing everyone’s platforms in the process.
How do I know this? Just take a look at the athletes’ social media pages. I’ll leave a few links below.
Paige Bueckers: https://www.instagram.com/paigebueckers/?hl=en
Angel Reese: https://www.instagram.com/angelreese5/?hl=en
A’ja Wilson: https://www.instagram.com/aja22wilson/?hl=en
Caitlin Clark: https://www.instagram.com/caitlinclark22/?hl=en
These are, of course, some of the star players who have received our attention recently. None of them, however, has under 1 million followers.
Want another reference? I’m glad you asked. Take a look at this Vogue article: “The WNBA Tunnel is Officially a Fashion Destination.”
https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/wnba-tunnel-fashion-2024-2025-season
The girls are in Vogue… what else can I say?!
It’s no secret that the WNBA has had difficulty gaining an audience since its debut in 1996. It’s also not news that these trailblazers have dedicated their lives to the game of basketball, successfully, might I add. While it may have taken an unfortunate amount of time, there is a newfound interest in the world of women’s sports, and paying them what they're rightfully owed is the first step in creating a fair and stable environment for each one of them.
According to The New York Times, “the rapid increase in revenue hasn’t been matched by what the players get paid” (Berri). NBA stars in the early 1970s were getting paid more than women today. Statistics show that WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson should be earning at least $4 million per year. How are their current salaries justified?
Read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/03/opinion/wnba-pay.html
All of that being said, it is interesting to note how fashion has played a role in their rise to mainstream success. It’s a complex situation, as I do wish female athletes were recognized for their talent and talent alone, a double standard in gender constructs, once again. Something to never underestimate is the power of self-expression through clothing, especially in women.
Sources
Alexander, Kara. “WNBA Players Embrace Continuously Growing Tunnel Walk Fashion.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2025, www.latimes.com/sports/sparks/story/2025-08-01/wnba-players-embrace-continuously-growing-tunnel-walk-fashion.
“Angel Reese to Make History as First Professional Athlete in Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.” AP News, AP News, 9 Oct. 2025, apnews.com/article/angel-wings-victorias-secret-bdd88e6c04fd4e19c67c0945cec9e1a3.
Berri, David. “Opinion | the W.N.B.A. Is Making More Money than Ever. Why Aren’t the Players?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/03/opinion/wnba-pay.html.
Galizia, Joseph. “A’ja Wilson Net Worth: The Three-Time MVP Has Earned Big Bucks over the Years.” The Athlete Lifestyle On SI, Sports Illustrated, 6 Mar. 2025, www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/news/a-ja-wilson-net-worth-three-time-mvp-earned-big-bucks.
Instagram, www.instagram.com/aja22wilson/.
Jackson, Hannah. “The WNBA Tunnel Is Officially a Fashion Destination.” Vogue, Vogue, 15 May 2024, www.vogue.com/slideshow/wnba-tunnel-fashion-2024-2025-season.
Login • Instagram, www.instagram.com/angelreese5/?hl=en.
“Meet Basketball MVP A’ja Wilson.” Nike.Com, www.nike.com/basketball/aja-wilson?q=aja+wilson&vst=aja+wilson.
Stephen Curry | NBA Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.Com, www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/6287/stephen-curry.
