Last month, Paige Bueckers had expressed her strong feeling for a 30th WNBA season despite prolonged CBA negotiations between the players and the league. She only had this to say: “We’ll have a season.”
A month later, one can say that there will be a WNBA season indeed in 2026. Following constant negotiations between the players’ association and the league, exceeding 100 hours over a week, a new deal was finally agreed upon on Wednesday. Yes, it’s yet to be ratified but a verbal agreement has been made on the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, as reported by ESPN.
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Once the new CBA gets into effect, all the emerging new WNBA stars like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark are expected to earn huge salaries moving forward. Same will be the case for Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers as well.
She’s also set to receive a massive jump compared to what she received in her rookie season in 2025. But the real question is: how much salary Paige Bueckers is projected to earn after the new CBA deal?
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers looks on during a game.© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
The former UConn alum, who averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists as a rookie during the WNBA 2025 season, is expected to earn $1.2 million, starting with the 2026 season according to Dallas Hoops Journal. And by 2028, Bueckers’ salary is expected to increase by $500,000, up to $1.7 million. How?
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Under the new CBA, younger talent has been given a lot of priority and rising players like Clark and Bueckers are expected to witness lucrative salary jumps. There’s going to be a new mechanism called EPIC (Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract). Under this, players on rookie deals can renegotiate their fourth year with a franchise and can sign a three-year extension.
Players who have earned All-WNBA First or Second Team honors as rookies will be eligible for a max contract. But if they have won the MVP award as well, they will then become eligible for the supermax contract.
Now, players who immediately qualify for the supermax contract can sign for $1.4 million during the 2026 season, accounting for 20% of the salary cap. On the other hand, the standard max contract will account for almost 17.5% of the salary cap.
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In simple words, it means players like Bueckers are expected to make $1.2 million and $1.7 million in 2026 and 2028 respectively.
Then 24-year-old spent her offseason with a debut in the three-on-three league Unrivaled for the Breeze BC. Earlier this month, she also made her senior national team debut for the United States during the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will be seen in the Wings squad once again when the new WNBA season begins in May.
Related: FIBA Responds to Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers Demand
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
