Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces has made WNBA history by becoming the first player in league history to sign a million-dollar-per-year contract, marking a defining moment in the economic evolution of women’s professional basketball.
Young, a standout guard who emerged as one of the league’s elite two-way players, finalized a one-year deal worth approximately $1.19 million during the 2026 free agency period.
The agreement keeps her with the reigning champions and places her at the center of a new financial era following the league’s recently ratified collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The landmark deal comes just weeks after the March 2026 CBA introduced a transformative revenue-sharing model and significantly raised salary ceilings across the league. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the agreement as the beginning of “a bold new era” for the league, highlighting its historic investment in player compensation and long-term growth.
Young’s rise to this moment has been defined by consistent excellence. A native of Princeton, Indiana, she dominated at Princeton Community High School before becoming a national champion at the University of Notre Dame, where she helped the Fighting Irish reach multiple NCAA championship games.
Drafted No. 1 overall in 2019 by the Aces, Young quickly developed into a cornerstone of the franchise. She is now a four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time All-WNBA selection. In the 2025 season, she averaged 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, elevating her play further in the postseason as Las Vegas secured another championship.
Her career also includes international dominance, with Olympic gold medals in both 3×3 basketball and traditional 5-on-5 competition for Team USA at the Tokyo and Paris Games.
The Aces’ championship core—featuring Young alongside A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray—has now secured three titles in four seasons, reinforcing Las Vegas as the league’s dominant force.
With salary caps rising and maximum contracts projected to grow significantly through 2032, Young’s deal is widely viewed as the first of many breakthroughs in a rapidly changing WNBA financial landscape.
For a player who rose from Indiana high school stardom to Olympic gold and WNBA championships, this contract cements Jackie Young’s place not only in basketball excellence—but in league history.
