Paige Bueckers Unrivaled contract, explained: How UConn star's deal compares to new WNBA salary
Paige Bueckers' WNBA career is just about begin, but she's also set to join the upstart Unrivaled league.
www.sportingnews.comHere’s what I can share based on the latest public reporting:
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Paige Bueckers signed a three-year contract with Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league, announced in mid-April 2025. This deal reportedly pays more in year one than her entire four-year rookie-scale WNBA contract would, making it a substantial early financial commitment for her.[2][4][5]
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Separately, after the 2025 WNBA Draft, reports indicated she would sign a four-year rookie contract with the Dallas Wings as the No. 1 overall pick, with a standard rookie-scale salary beginning around $78,831 in 2025 and totaling about $348,198 if options are exercised through 2028/2029, depending on team options.[3][4][5]
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In short, 2025 featured parallel paths: a lucrative Unrivaled 3-on-3 deal ahead of (and alongside) entering the WNBA as the top pick with the Wings. The Unrivaled agreement was reported to exceed her WNBA rookie earnings in the first year, and the Wings contract would govern her official WNBA rookie season and potential options thereafter.[4][2][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most up-to-date numbers or summarize the terms side-by-side in a quick chart. Also, tell me if you want information focused on how these deals compare to typical WNBA rookie contracts or NIL/Unrivaled equity details.
Citations:
- Bueckers Unrivaled three-year deal and its reported value compared to WNBA rookie earnings.[5][2][4]
- WNBA rookie contract structure and guaranteed figures for a top pick with the Dallas Wings.[3][5]
- Context on Unrivaled’s NIL/ equity setup and its impact on her earnings narrative.[4][5]