Azzi Fudd will make history as the highest-paid No. 1 pick in the WNBA ever. Fudd’s bump from previous WNBA rookie’s salaries and contracts is a result of the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement.
Heading into the 2026 WNBA draft, Fudd was a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick. Fudd will earn a $500,000 salary in 2026, per Front Office Sports. This is more than $400,000 higher than Paige Bueckers earned as the WNBA’s No. 1 pick in 2025.
Fudd is also set to make more in her rookie season than Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark did in 2025. Clark had a salary of $78,066 in 2025, per Spotrac, much less than Fudd is slated to make during her first WNBA season.
As the No. 1 pick, Fudd is expected to land a four-year, $2.2 million contract with the Dallas Wings.
Here’s what you need to know about the WNBA contracts and salaries for Fudd and others.
Caitlin Clark Now Has a WNBA Salary of $527,000 in 2026, a Massive Raise From $78,000
The good news for Clark, Bueckers and other WNBA stars is that their contracts have been adjusted to reflect the new CBA. Clark will earn a massive raise in 2026 with a salary of more than $527,000, per The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant.
“Unlike the previous CBA, which locked even the league’s best players into their low rookie salaries, the new agreement brings along all players on rookie contracts, including Clark, Bueckers and Reese,” Merchant wrote in a March 22, 2026, story titled, “What will Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and more WNBA stars on rookie contracts now make?”
“… Caitlin Clark’s third-year base salary would thus be $527,155. It was scheduled to be $85,873 under the old CBA. Angel Reese’s salary is lower because the No. 7 pick is on a different pay scale. The 2026 No. 7 pick’s base salary in Year 3 would be $379,309, so Reese’s salary after the two four-percent reductions will be $349,571.”
Azzi Fudd’s Projected NIL Value at UConn Was $612,000
Clark may not have previously had a high WNBA salary, but the star was still earning lucrative deals thanks to endorsements. At UConn, Fudd’s projected NIL value was $612,000, per On3, higher than her new WNBA salary.
Fudd’s NIL deals previously included Jordan Brand, Cash App, Geico, 2K Sports, Celsius and American Eagles among others. Ahead of March Madness, Fudd signed a new deal with Jordan Brand.
Fudd now has an opportunity to pair her new lucrative WNBA contract with brand deals like Jordan. This is a major difference compared to NIL earnings, because Fudd is now also receiving a salary in addition to endorsement money.
“I grew up watching what the Jumpman meant to basketball and to the culture around the game, so becoming part of the Jordan Brand family represents what I am stepping into and the greatness that I aspire to be,” Fudd said in a statement announcing the news, per On3. “To wear the same logo that so many legends have worn is something I don’t take lightly.
“For me, it’s about honoring that legacy while also helping show what the next generation of women’s basketball looks like. I’m excited to keep pushing my game forward while representing Jordan Brand with pride. And I hope that I continue to inspire young girls who dream of playing at the highest level.”
Azzi Fudd’s WNBA Salary Is $400,000 More Than Caitlin Clark But There’s a Catch