Also called: Professional Women's Basketball Player
Plays professional basketball in the Women's National Basketball Association.
The WNBA season runs summer to fall, with practices, games, travel, and media duties. Many players also play overseas or in new US leagues in the offseason to boost income. Endorsements are growing fast.
Estimate. Salaries have historically ranged from about $66k to $250k, but new labor deals and media contracts are pushing pay up sharply; stars add big endorsement income.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Most athletes start as kids and compete through high school and college; no degree is required, though many earn one. Most WNBA players played four years of college basketball.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Kinesiology, Communications, Business.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS projects 5% growth for all athletes and sports competitors (2024-34), but roster spots in each league are nearly fixed, so competition is extreme.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps scouting and load management; playing stays human, and growing league interest adds teams.
Classes: Weight training PE, NCAA-approved core courses, Health and nutrition.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.