The WNBA and WNBPA are still stuck in ABC negotiations that threaten to delay the 2026 season. For players, this is the perfect opportunity to finally fight for higher salaries, a fair revenue sharing system, better retirement benefits and much more.
For the longest time, WNBA players were paid so poorly that they had to supplement their salaries by playing overseas, taking coaching jobs, or venturing into broadcasting. Allisha Gray found another way to earn some extra cash: winning challenges during WNBA All-Star Weekend and Unrivaled Season.
While it’s great that players have the opportunity to earn extra money by playing 1-on-1 or being an efficient free-throw shooter, those earnings aren’t expected to come close to their WNBA salaries. After all, participating in a 3-point shootout or skills challenge doesn’t even compare to the months WNBA players spend putting their bodies and mental health on the line.
Allisha Gray has earned the equivalent of an entire WNBA season’s salary in challenges since 2024
Gray dominated All-Star Weekend in 2024 by winning both the 3-point contest and the skills challenge. Those two wins earned him $5,150 from the WNBA and $110,000 from Aflac, an insurance company that supplemented the league’s prize money.
The Atlanta Dream star earned $185,000 during the 2024 season, so his earnings from the skills challenge and 3-point contest made up more than half of his salary.
Gray was unable to defend her titles during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, but found other challenges in which to thrive. She won $50,000 in reach the final of Unrivaled’s 1v1 tournament and earned the same amount by winning the league’s second free throw challenge two days ago. The money she received from the two challenges represented more than a third of her salary for the 2025 season.
Her challenge winnings from 2024 and this unmatched season matched more than one season of Gray’s last WNBA contract.
Player salaries to skyrocket under new collective bargaining agreement
The CBA negotiations have raised a lot of questions: Will there be a 2026 season? When will the season start? What does the new salary cap mean for superteams? One thing that is beyond doubt is that players will earn a lot more money. Some players will win a million dollars.
The one thing the league and the players simply can’t agree on is how much revenue the players should receive. Even if the WNBPA was willing to lower the requested percentage, the two sides are still separated by almost 10%.
If the 2026 season were to start on time, a new collective agreement would have to be agreed before March 10. This deadline is fast approaching.
