A’ja Wilson’s $5 million contract is not just the richest deal in WNBA history. It’s also quite unique in the sense that it’s a bet on the entire league. And it appears like it’s quite a risky bet, because unlike every other deal in the league, this one comes with uncertainty.
Discussing the contract on the April 17 episode of The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant spoke at length on the uncertainty that A’ja Wilson’s deal carries. For her, “it could be a good move, or it could not be a good move depending on whether the WNBA loses some revenue.” As she explained, A’ja Wilson’s deal is tied to the league’s revenue because it’s dependent on the team’s salary cap.
The salary cap that the WNBA places on every team is based on the revenue that the league makes. If the league makes more money, the salary cap goes up, and if they lose money, the salary cap goes down. As Sabreena puts it, “A’ja has this unique contract where her salary is 20% of the salary cap.” That is, whatever the salary cap is for the next three years. And since the league’s revenue, and in turn the salary cap, cannot be predicted, it is quite uncertain what A’ja Wilson’s salary will turn out to be next year.
On A’ja Wilson’s part, this certainly is a good deal. As explained by Sabreena, “That’s just an interesting business decision by A’ja. And kudos to her for getting this massive payment from the Aces.” In fact, she feels that this payment is actually justified. This is because “she was taking a significant discount in previous years to accommodate her teammates and make sure that they could build a title-winning roster.”
And as Sabreena pointed out, right now, it appears like that favor is now being returned. “I think it’s interesting that her teammates are now the ones taking the discounts so that A’ja can get the big old money and they can still build a title-winning roster,” she said.
And of course, that’s not far from the truth. During the Aces’ dominant championship runs, the WNBA salary cap was at roughly $1.5 million. To fit stars like Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young on the same team, players had to accept lower figures. Wilson famously played through the 2024 and 2025 seasons on a team-friendly deal, making around $200,000 annually. This was actually less than what some of her teammates were earning at the time, despite her being the clear best player.
Now, with the WNBA’s new CBA and the team salary cap at $7 million, A’ja secured her massive 20% supermax contract. Her core teammates have, in return, deliberately left money on the table. Specifically, Jackie Young could have easily commanded a supermax deal alongside Wilson. Instead, she signed a regular max deal at $1.19 million. Chelsea Gray was eligible for more but agreed to a starting salary of $1 million. That also applies to Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. And all these enabled the Aces to successfully retain 90% of their championship-winning scoring power while still making A’ja Wilson the highest-paid player in league history.
In short, it is not only A’ja Wilson who is betting on the league with her new deal. The Las Vegas Aces are doing that as well. Hopefully, the league actually makes more money, the salary cap goes up, and the Aces wouldn’t find themselves in any desperate situations. If that happens, everybody wins.
A’ja Wilson Maintained Unwavering Commitment Even Before Historic Deal
A’ja Wilson has only played for the Las Vegas Aces throughout her entire WNBA career. The Aces drafted her as the first overall pick in 2018, and she has remained committed to the team ever since. And while she currently earns the biggest salary in WNBA history, her commitment is not one that money buys.
In the wake of the new CBA, a vast majority of the league had their contracts run out and were entering free agency, Wilson included. And at that point, it would make sense for players to go for the highest bidders. For A’ja Wilson, however, the thought of leaving the Aces is one that never crossed her mind.
Speaking at the Team USA training camp earlier this month, Wilson reaffirmed her commitment to the Aces. And that was even before her historic deal was put in place. “I’m not looking,” she said, confirming that testing the free agency market was not on the table for her.
Further emphasizing that stance, she said, “I know exactly where I am. I love Vegas. I’m not leaving Vegas.” The team has won three of the last four WNBA championships, titles that she has been central to. And as she made clear, she is focused on adding more. “I’m looking to win another one. I’m looking to defend a championship that we have in Las Vegas,” she said.
For her, there is also a clear path for continuous development with the Aces. She wants to get better as a leader and as a player, all while staying with the team. And that level of commitment only makes this new deal feel even more deserved.
