Fans Celebrate Jackie Young’s Historic $1 Million WNBA Payday

Jackie Young has been a consistent and dominant guard for the Las Vegas Aces ever since she came into the league.

Fans Celebrate Jackie Young’s Historic $1 Million WNBA Payday

Jackie Young to earn $1.19 million next year (Image is FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Jackie Young becomes the first player in WNBA history to earn a million-dollar paycheck.
  • The Las Vegas Aces are finalizing a one-year deal for Young at the regular max salary of $1.19 million.
  • Fans and NBA stars celebrate Young's historic achievement on social media, marking a significant moment in women's sports.

Last season, Las Vegas Aces superstar guard Jackie Young was one of the WNBA’s highest-paid players, earning a quarter of a million dollars in salary.

She made more in a year than the entire rookie contract she signed since coming into the league as the Aces’ No. 1 overall pick back in 2019.

Since then, she has been one of the better players in the league, earning four All-Star call-ups, two All-WNBA Second-Team nods, and playing a pivotal part in her team’s three championship wins.

The last one was epic, as the Aces, who had been struggling for most of the first half of the season, found a way to turn it around and win the title despite facing some tough competition.

Usually, this means that someone like Jackie Young should be rewarded for her effort. The only problem is that she has superstars A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray as her teammates.

Even Jewell Loyd, who played off the bench later in the season, can command a high salary. That left the Aces to maneuver through some difficult contract negotiations.

The Las Vegas Aces are finalizing an agreement for Jackie Young to return to Vegas, sources told ESPN. Expected to be a one-year deal at the regular max ($1.19 million).

Alexa Philippou revealed on X

This means that the Aces have indeed handed the Notre Dame alum a salary she deserves, even though other teams may have had the supermax salary of $1.4 million ready for her if she wanted to leave.

Jackie Young earning first million-dollar paycheck draws applause from fans

While A’ja Wilson will likely command the $1.4 million supermax, the fact that Jackie Young created history by becoming the WNBA’s first player to earn a million-dollar paycheck excited fans.

They took to social media to celebrate what is a major moment in the history of women’s sports. Even NBA stars, Ja Morant and Isaiah Thomas, celebrated with the fans, examples of which are below.

Even though Jackie Young made significantly more money from endorsements than her salary last season, she is still not anywhere close to what Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese make.

Now, this salary, as well as those in the future, will help her create generational wealth for herself and her family. That was something the women in the WNBA had to leave their country and play abroad to do.

Aces have a salary cap headache on their hands

Last season, the Las Vegas Aces took a bold step to trade for Jewell Loyd, despite having a roster that needed more depth than another superstar.

Aces have to make tough roster choices
Aces have to make tough roster choices (Image via Aces/X)

After struggling for most of the first half of the season, they traded for NaLyssa Smith. That was the turning point that fueled them toward their third championship.

Sure, the players on that roster would like it very much if they all returned, as that team can still fight to defend its crown this season. But to do that, the Aces’ front office has to make some tough decisions.

They will have to ask Chelsea Gray and Loyd to take less than what they deserve. Otherwise, the franchise will be forced to fill the roster with minimum contract players.

Also Read: