Many of the WNBA’s biggest names joined 3-on-3 startup league Unrivaled for its inaugural season, and one of the faces of women’s basketball is set to jump into the mix in 2026.
No, it’s not Caitlin Clark — UConn star Paige Bueckers, who is on the verge of joining the WNBA herself, signed a deal to play for Unrivaled in its second season, giving the league another layer of star talent as it looks to get off the ground.
Bueckers signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled after it launched, but she didn’t join a team or participate on the court in any way during the inaugural season, which overlapped with UConn’s season.
Here’s what you need to know about Bueckers’ Unrivaled deal and how it compares to her future WNBA salary.
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Paige Bueckers Unrivaled contract, explained
Bueckers agreed to a three-year contract to join Unrivaled ahead of the WNBA Draft. While her first season in the league won’t start until 2026 and she doesn’t yet have a team, she’s set to make more in one 10-week campaign than she will on her entire four-year rookie contract in the WNBA, ESPN reports.
All players receive six-figure contracts to play for Unrivaled. Bueckers’ deal reportedly exceeds $348,000 per year if it indeed exceeds her entire…
