How Much Did Liz Cambage Make In The WNBA? Unpacking A Star's Earnings

Dakota Bode

30 Jul, 2025

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Have you ever wondered about the financial side of professional basketball, especially for a prominent player like Liz Cambage? It's a question many sports fans ask, and it touches on a very interesting part of the WNBA's story. People are often curious about how *much* top athletes earn, and when it comes to a talent as big as Cambage, that curiosity is certainly amplified. Her journey in the league, with its ups and downs, actually provides a unique look into the financial landscape for women in professional sports.

For quite some time, the conversation around WNBA player salaries has been a lively one. It's not just about the numbers themselves, but also about what those numbers represent for the athletes who dedicate their lives to the game. When we talk about how *much* a player like Liz Cambage earned, we're really looking at more than just a paycheck; we're exploring the value placed on elite talent within a growing sports league. So, let's explore this topic together.

Discovering the specific figures can give us a better picture of the opportunities available to WNBA stars. It also helps us grasp the financial realities they face, which can be quite different from their male counterparts in the NBA, you know? Understanding how *much* a player of her caliber could command in salary truly helps to paint a complete picture of her time in the league.

Liz Cambage: A Look at Her Career
Personal Details and Bio Data
Understanding WNBA Salaries: The Basics
Cambage's Earning Potential and Actual Salaries
The Supermax Contract and What It Means
Beyond the Court: Other Income Streams
The Impact of Her Decisions on Earnings
The Broader Picture: WNBA Growth and Player Pay
Frequently Asked Questions About Liz Cambage and WNBA Salaries
Final Thoughts on a Star Player's Earnings

Liz Cambage: A Look at Her Career

Liz Cambage, a towering presence on the basketball court, has had a career that's been, in a way, full of remarkable highs and some unexpected turns. Drafted by the Tulsa Shock in 2011, she quickly showed everyone just how much talent she possessed. Her early years were marked by dominant performances, showing a great quantity of skill that few could match. She quickly became known for her scoring ability and her strong play inside the paint, really making a name for herself.

After her initial stint with the Shock, which later became the Dallas Wings, she took some time away from the WNBA. This decision was, in some respects, quite a big one for a player of her stature. She then made a highly anticipated return, joining the Las Vegas Aces, where she truly shined. During her time there, she was a central figure for the team, helping them achieve a great deal of success on the court. Her performances with the Aces were, very often, highlights of the season.

Later in her career, Cambage moved to the Los Angeles Sparks, a change that brought a lot of attention. Her time with the Sparks was, in a way, shorter than many expected, and she eventually decided to step away from the WNBA again. This series of career moves, with periods of playing in the league and then stepping back, certainly had an impact on her total earnings from the WNBA, as you might expect.

Personal Details and Bio Data

Here's a quick look at some key details about Liz Cambage:

Detail	Information
Full Name	Elizabeth Folau Cambage
Born	August 18, 1991
Birthplace	London, England
Nationality	Australian
Height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Position	Center
WNBA Draft	2011, Round 1, Pick 2 (Tulsa Shock)
WNBA Teams	Tulsa Shock (2011-2012), Dallas Wings (2018), Las Vegas Aces (2019-2021), Los Angeles Sparks (2022)
WNBA All-Star Selections	4 (2011, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Olympic Appearances	3 (2012, 2016, 2020)

Understanding WNBA Salaries: The Basics

To really get a handle on how *much* Liz Cambage made, it's pretty important to understand how WNBA salaries are set. The league has a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that lays out all the rules for player compensation. This agreement covers things like minimum salaries, maximum salaries, and the overall salary cap for each team. It's actually quite a detailed system, you know?

The WNBA's salary structure is designed to create a level playing field for teams while also providing fair compensation for players. There are different tiers of pay, depending on a player's experience and their contract type. Rookies, for instance, have a set scale for their first few years, while seasoned veterans can command higher salaries, especially if they are considered top-tier talent. The amount of money available to teams is, in a way, limited by the salary cap, which means teams have to make careful choices about how they spend their funds.

For a long time, the WNBA's salaries were a point of much discussion, often compared to the much higher earnings in the NBA. However, with each new CBA, the players and the league have worked to increase the overall compensation for athletes. The most recent agreement, which began in 2020, brought about some pretty significant changes, leading to higher base salaries and new opportunities for players to earn more money. This was a really big step, allowing players like Liz Cambage to potentially earn a great deal more than in previous years.

Cambage's Earning Potential and Actual Salaries

When Liz Cambage returned to the WNBA and later signed with teams like the Las Vegas Aces and the Los Angeles Sparks, she was in a position to earn some of the highest salaries available in the league. As one of the most dominant centers in the game, she was eligible for what's known as a "supermax" contract. This type of deal is reserved for the very best players who meet certain criteria, allowing them to earn a far larger amount of money than the standard maximum salary. It's a way for teams to reward and keep their most valuable assets, you see?

For the 2020 season, under the new CBA, the maximum base salary for a supermax player was around $215,000. This figure increased slightly in subsequent years. For instance, in 2022, the supermax could reach approximately $228,000. So, when Cambage signed her deals with the Aces and later the Sparks, she was, in a way, commanding these top-tier salaries. Her earning potential was, quite frankly, at the very peak of what the WNBA allowed for its players.

It's important to note that a player's actual earnings can vary based on several factors, including whether they play a full season, any incentives in their contract, and if they receive additional benefits. While the supermax figure represents the base salary, a player's total compensation might be a bit higher with bonuses for performance or awards. So, for a player like Liz Cambage, who was consistently an All-Star, her total earnings from the WNBA would have been very close to, if not at, the absolute maximum allowable for a player of her experience and skill level during her active years.

The Supermax Contract and What It Means

The supermax contract is, in a way, a relatively new addition to the WNBA's salary structure, and it represents a big step forward for player compensation. Before this, even the top players didn't have the opportunity to earn quite as much. The supermax allows teams to offer their most elite players a significant salary increase, going beyond the standard maximum. This means that a player who qualifies for the supermax can earn a great deal more money over the course of their contract, which is a pretty important change.

For a player like Liz Cambage, qualifying for the supermax was almost a given, considering her talent and consistent performance. This contract type is meant to keep star players in the league and with their teams, making the WNBA more competitive and appealing. It also helps to narrow the gap, even if only slightly, between WNBA salaries and what players might earn overseas or in other leagues. The idea is to make playing in the WNBA the most financially attractive option for the very best players, like Cambage, you know?

When a player signs a supermax deal, it shows the team's commitment to them and their value to the franchise. It's a statement about how much that player means to the team's success. For Liz Cambage, her supermax contracts reflected her status as one of the most dominant forces in the game, capable of changing the outcome of a match with her presence alone. This level of pay is a clear indication of the great quantity of impact she had on the court.

Beyond the Court: Other Income Streams

While WNBA salaries are a significant part of a player's income, it's also worth remembering that many athletes, especially those with a high profile like Liz Cambage, have other ways to earn money. These can often add a great deal to their overall financial picture. For example, endorsements and sponsorships are a big part of how *much* a player can make outside of their team salary. Brands want to associate themselves with successful and recognizable athletes, and Cambage certainly fits that description.

Players can also earn money from playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. For many years, playing in leagues in Australia, China, or Europe was a crucial way for WNBA players to supplement their income, sometimes earning far more than their WNBA salaries. While the new CBA has tried to encourage players to stay in the WNBA during the offseason, the option to play internationally has historically been a very important financial avenue for many, including Liz Cambage earlier in her career.

Additionally, players might earn money from appearances, merchandise sales, or even ventures outside of basketball. A player's personal brand can be quite valuable, and someone with a strong personality and a large following, like Cambage, can leverage that into various income opportunities. So, when considering how *much* Liz Cambage made, it's not just her WNBA contract that tells the whole story; it's also these other streams that contribute to her total earnings, which can be a large amount indeed.

The Impact of Her Decisions on Earnings

Liz Cambage's career path, marked by periods away from the WNBA and then returns, certainly had an impact on her total earnings from the league. When a player steps away, they obviously don't earn a salary from the WNBA during that time. This means that while her per-year salary when she was active was very high, the cumulative amount might be different compared to a player who played consistently for a longer stretch of years. It's a pretty straightforward consequence, you know?

Her decision to step away from the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022, for instance, meant that she forfeited the remainder of her salary for that season. While she had signed a significant deal, not completing the contract means the total WNBA earnings from that specific agreement would be less than initially projected. These kinds of choices, while personal, have a direct financial implication for the player. It shows that how *much* a player makes isn't just about the contract signed, but also about the duration of their active participation.

For a player of her caliber, the financial trade-offs are often quite substantial. There's a great deal of money at stake. However, personal well-being and other opportunities might outweigh the immediate financial gains from staying in the league. So, while we can look at the maximum salaries she was eligible for, her actual WNBA earnings are also shaped by her career choices and the time she spent on and off the court in the league. This is a subtle, but important, point to consider.

The Broader Picture: WNBA Growth and Player Pay

The question of how *much* Liz Cambage made in the WNBA is part of a much larger conversation about the growth and financial stability of women's professional sports. The WNBA has been steadily gaining popularity, viewership, and sponsorship interest in recent years. This growth is a really good sign, and it directly impacts the amount of money available for player salaries. As the league brings in more revenue, there's a greater capacity to increase player compensation, which is something everyone wants to see.

The current collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified in 2020, was a landmark moment for WNBA players. It significantly increased player salaries, introduced new revenue-sharing opportunities, and improved benefits. This agreement was the result of a great deal of negotiation and advocacy from the players themselves, who have been very vocal about wanting fair pay. It shows that the league is moving in a direction where players can earn a far larger amount of money than they could in previous eras.

The hope is that as the WNBA continues to expand its audience and secure more lucrative media deals and sponsorships, the financial rewards for players like Liz Cambage will only continue to grow. This means that future generations of WNBA stars could potentially earn even more substantial sums, which would be a very positive development for the sport. The discussion around how *much* top players make helps to highlight the progress being made and the journey that still lies ahead for pay equity in sports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Liz Cambage and WNBA Salaries

How much does the average WNBA player make?

The average WNBA player's salary can vary quite a bit, but under the current collective bargaining agreement, it has seen a good increase. For the 2022 season, for example, the average cash compensation for players was reported to be around $130,000. This includes base salary, marketing agreements, and other benefits. It's a far larger amount than it used to be, which is a positive sign for the league's players, you know?

Do WNBA players get paid more than NBA G League players?

This is an interesting comparison, and the answer can actually vary. While top WNBA players, especially those on supermax contracts like Liz Cambage, can earn a great deal more than many G League players, the average G League salary has also been increasing. Some G League players on two-way contracts or those with significant bonuses might earn comparable amounts to average WNBA players. However, the very highest WNBA salaries are typically higher than most G League base salaries, especially when you factor in the WNBA's full compensation package.

What is the WNBA supermax salary?

The WNBA supermax salary is the highest base salary a player can earn in the league, reserved for elite players who meet specific criteria. For the 2022 season, this figure was approximately $228,000. This amount increases slightly each year under the current collective bargaining agreement. It's designed to allow teams to pay their most valuable players a great quantity of money, keeping them competitive and making the WNBA an attractive place for the best talent.

Final Thoughts on a Star Player's Earnings

Looking at how *much* Liz Cambage made in the WNBA gives us a pretty clear window into the financial side of being a top professional basketball player in the women's game. She was consistently among the highest-paid athletes during her time in the league, often earning the supermax salary. This reflects her immense talent and the significant impact she had on the court, which was a great deal for any team she played for.

Her career, with its unique trajectory, also shows that a player's total earnings aren't just about the maximum contract figures. They are also shaped by career choices, time spent active in the league, and other income streams. The discussion around her earnings is, in a way, part of the broader story of the WNBA's growth and its ongoing efforts to provide fair and substantial compensation for its players. To learn more about WNBA player salaries on our site, you can explore our detailed articles, and link to this page for more on the league's financial growth.