Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson is expected to re-sign on the historic new WNBA supermax salary of $1.4 million as soon as possible, sources told the Review-Journal on Wednesday.
The news comes after eight days of marathon negotiations in New York, culminated early Wednesday in a handshake deal between the WNBA and its players’ union on terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
Wilson is a free agent this offseason, along with 80 percent of the league, which was holding out for the increased salaries players fought for in the new agreement. Free agency was delayed because of the negotiations and will begin once the new CBA is ratified.
Wilson’s resume easily makes the case for her as the WNBA’s best active player. For years, paying her accordingly was complicated. Now, it’s not.
Wilson, the only four-time league MVP, has led the Aces to three championships in four years.
During that span, the 29-year-old has taken team-friendly deals to aid the Aces in constructing winning teams. That process was difficult under the salary cap set by the previous CBA, which will increase from $1.4 million to starting at $7 million under the new deal.
Wilson, who signed a two-year extension in 2023 worth $200,000 per year, was not even in the top 25 highest-paid players last season. That list included her teammate Jewell Loyd, who made the 2025 supermax of $249,000.
The Washington Mystics’ Alysha Clark and the Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum also made more than Wilson last season, according to the Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database.
Wilson became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to claim the league scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in one season. She also joined NBA legend Bill Russell as the only other player to win three MVPs and three championships within four seasons.
Aces coach Becky Hammon, who made $25,000 in her rookie year as a WNBA player, became the league’s first million-dollar coach in 2022. The Aces will make Wilson a million-dollar player to show appreciation for the sacrifices she’s made to ensure the team’s success, sources said.
Although sources indicated that teams were attempting to maneuver themselves into position to make plays for Wilson before last season had concluded, she was outspoken last year about wanting to remain in Las Vegas.
“I see everything. People send me stuff, even my mom, and I laugh,” Wilson told the RJ when asked about rumors that placed her with other teams. “I think everyone knows where my heart is. And my heart’s always going to be in Vegas. So if I leave here, it’s because they sent me away. Know that. Because I love it. This is my second home, and I don’t see myself leaving.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Callie__Fin on X.
