WNBA No. 1 Pick Projected Salary

WNBA No. 1 Pick Projected Salary

March 26, 2026

How Much Will the WNBA’s No. 1 Pick Earn in 2026?
The projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is expected to earn about $500,000 in her rookie season, a dramatic increase under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. That salary is more than six times what the 2025 No. 1 pick earned as a rookie, reflecting the WNBA’s rapidly rising pay structure. The top pick’s contract will account for roughly 7% of a team’s salary cap in 2026, showing how valuable elite rookies have become financially. The increase is part of a broader overhaul that includes higher salary caps, revenue sharing with players, and significantly improved compensation across the league.
^{Front Office Sports}

BofA reiterates Buy on Disney stock, cites experiences growth
Bank of America reiterated a buy rating on The Walt Disney Company partly because of confidence in the long-term value of ESPN and its relationship with the National Football League. Analysts highlighted that investors are watching closely for a potential early renewal of ESPN’s NFL media-rights agreement, which could strengthen Disney’s sports revenue outlook. The NFL’s roughly 10% ownership stake in ESPN was described as a sign of deeper strategic alignment between the league and the network. Bank of America also noted that this partnership helps reinforce ESPN’s role as a leading sports platform and a key driver of Disney’s future growth in sports broadcasting.
^Investing

WNBA BOG officially ratifies new CBA
The WNBA Board of Governors unanimously ratified a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement on March 24, 2026, running through 2032, with an opt-out after six years. This transformative deal significantly increases the salary cap to $7 million in the first year (up from $1.5M in 2025), with the season expanding to 44 games and later up to 52 by 2029.
^{Sports Business Journal}

ESPN to premiere ‘Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN’ on April 6
ESPN announced it will premiere a documentary titled Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN on April 6, telling the story of how the network was created and grew into a major force in sports media. The film features interviews with founders like Bill Rasmussen and other early leaders and broadcasters who helped shape ESPN’s development. It highlights the risks the founders took in launching a 24-hour sports network despite skepticism and limited funding at the time. The documentary also shows how early partnerships—especially with college sports organizations like the NCAA—played a key role in establishing ESPN’s programming foundation and long-term influence on sports broadcasting.
^{ESPN Press Room}

New Titans stadium construction updates, including when roof should be finished
Construction on the Tennessee Titans’ new enclosed Nissan Stadium in Nashville is progressing on schedule, with the project expected to be ready for the 2027 NFL season. Crews are continuing major structural work now, with upcoming phases including installation of the stadium’s roof and interior features over the next year. The roughly $2.1 billion stadium is heavily supported by public funding through state and local bonds, making it one of the largest publicly funded NFL stadium projects. Team officials say they remain confident the timeline will hold as the stadium takes shape next to the current Nissan Stadium before the Titans eventually move into the new facility.
^{The Tennessean}

Tiger Woods returns at TGL and can’t stop LA from winning SoFi Cup
Tiger Woods competed for the first time in more than a year. That wasnt nearly enough to stop Los Angeles Golf Club, which made three straight eagles to close out a 9-2 victory in the TGL final Tuesday night to capture the SoFi Cup. Woods had been captain and cheerleader for Jupiter Links as he recovered from back surgery in October. He decided Monday evening after Los Angeles rallied to win the first match in the best-of-3 series that he was ready to play, replacing Kevin Kisner.
^{AP News}

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Bird Rights in the Big Ten? More likely than you might think
UCLA Bruins head coach Mike Cronin spoke about college basketball adopting rules similar to the Bird Rules in the NBA. He would like the Big Ten Conference to start using the rules. The Big Ten is pushing for a retention pool for the revenue sharing cap. If the conference were to adopt the retention pool, it’d help teams keep teams together and limit the incentive of transferring. The NBA’s Bird Rules allow NBA teams to exceed the salary cap to help keep teams together.
^{Yahoo Sports}

Tuberville proposes bill to limit college athlete transfers
A new Senate bill led by Tommy Tuberville would limit how often college athletes can transfer schools without penalty, aiming to bring more stability to college sports rosters. The proposal would require athletes who transfer more than once to sit out a season, reversing recent rules that allowed multiple transfers without losing eligibility. Supporters argue the transfer portal has made college athletics resemble free agency and disrupted recruiting and team continuity. Critics say the measure could restrict athlete freedom and potentially face legal challenges as lawmakers continue debating how to regulate the evolving college sports system.
^{The Hill}

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