WNBA All-Stars Receive $2,575 Participation Bonus Amid Pay Disparities

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, set for July 19 in Indianapolis, features stars like Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, and Paige Bueckers, with each selected player receiving a flat participation bonus of $2,575 regardless of playing time or game outcome. The All-Star MVP will earn an additional $5,150, while winners of the 3-point and skills competitions receive $2,575 from the league, supplemented by substantial payouts from sponsor Aflac—$60,000 for the 3-point winner and $55,000 for the skills champion. Despite these bonuses, WNBA players and union president Nneka Ogwumike express frustration over the relatively low amounts compared to NBA counterparts, emphasizing the need for significant salary and revenue-sharing reforms amid ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. The WNBA All-Star bonus equals about 2.1% of the league's average salary, higher proportionally than the NBA's 1.35%, but the absolute amounts remain far smaller, with NBA players earning tens of thousands more even as runners-up. The partnership with Aflac has notably increased individual contest payouts, partially offsetting league bonus limitations, but the players continue to push for a more equitable compensation structure reflecting league growth and revenue. Critical talks between the league and the WNBPA are scheduled during the All-Star weekend, with a new collective bargaining agreement deadline set for October 31, 2025.