paige bueckers: "Gonna make at least $400k in her first year": Fans left in disbelief as Paige Bueckers signs massive new contract with Unrivaled

"Gonna make at least $400k in her first year": Fans left in disbelief as Paige Bueckers signs massive new contract with Unrivaled

NCAA Womens Basketball: Final Four Champions-Connecticut Victory Parade and Rally - Source: Imagn — Paige Bueckers during the Victory Parade and Rally - Source: Imagn

Former UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers is signing a lucrative three-year with Unrivaled one night ahead of the WNBA Draft, ESPN reports. Details of the deal, other than the duration, weren't disclosed, but Bueckers is set to make more than what she would earn in the entirety of her rookie WNBA contract.

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Fans reacted on social media, wondering what the former UConn would be making and congratulating her for making the decision.

"She's gonna make at least 400k in her first year of Unrivaled bruh this is crazy." a fan said.

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"Good for her. They are going to really lean into her for promoting the league and her play style fits." another fan wrote.

"Paige will be a good fit for Unrivaled. Went to 2 games and it is different. But everything is way more chill than the W." a fan added.

Other fans called out the WNBA to guarantee better contracts for players and praised Unrivaled. While a new CBA is expected to be in the works this year, player's salaries are considerably lower than Unrivaled right now. If Paige Bueckers is selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft, she will be making $78,831 in her rookie season.

"Dawg the first pick only gets 78k?? I knew the salaries in the W weren’t great but that seems so off of value, need to fix it," a fan wrote.

"Unrivaled cracked the code. The WNBA should be taking notes, and asking questions." another fan said.

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"Great unrivaled be so fun to watch💪🏽🔥," a fan added.

Playing for Unrivaled will not prevent Paige Bueckers from entering the WNBA Draft or playing in the league, as their season are not played simultaneously. She is still expected to be the first name coming off the board to the Dallas Wings.

The three-on-three basketball reportedly exceeded $27 million in revenue in its inaugural season, even if it didn't have some of the marquee players in the WNBA, such as Caitlin Clark or A'ja Wilson.

Paige Bueckers' WNBA salary will be higher than Caitlin Clark's

Because Paige Bueckers is entering the league a year after Caitlin Clark, it's logical that her salary is higher than Clark's rookie deal. However, the former UConn star will also be making more than the Indiana Fever star's sophomore pay.

Clark is slated to make $78,066 in her second year in the League, slightly less than Bueckers' $78,831. In the case of both superstars, they can make far more by taking endorsement deals or, in Bueckers' case, playing at Unrivaled.

The WNBA Draft will be held tomorrow at 7:30 pm ET in New York City.

About the author

Allan Wolburg Robles is a College Sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over 17 years of experience in the field writing for publications including Reforma, Yahoo! OddsShark and Apuesta. Allan studied Communications at Anáhuac University, where he learned what would become the basis of a trade that was already a dream of his before starting college.

His favorite team is Army West Point as when he was young, Allan lived in West Point for a couple of years, went to pretty much every home game, a couple of Army-Navy games and even got to meet some of the players.

Allan's favorite players of all time include Tommie Frazier, who was unbelievable during the Nebraska dynasty of the early 90's. Tim Tebow was also a favorite, mainly because of his leadership skills, although he was also awesome on the football field. As a fan of defensive football, (or what's left of it), Sean Taylor could take over a game for Miami.

Allan has always considered himself a student of the game more than a fan of it. So the historical part and evolution of the game, as well as the ins and outs of what happens on the field, and being able to put it into words for the audience, are his biggest strengths.

Besides sports, Allan enjoys reading books, watching movies and spending time with his dogs.

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Edited by Ruth John S