History was made in women’s basketball this week, and the name attached to it is one that Las Vegas Aces fans know very well. Jackie Young has become the first player in WNBA history to sign a contract worth over one million dollars, marking a watershed moment not just for her career, but for the entire league. The re-signing of the 27-year-old All-Star guard signals a new era in how women’s professional basketball values its top talent.
Reuters reported that the contract is expected to be worth $1.19 million — the maximum amount available for a player not yet eligible for the WNBA’s top-tier max contract of $1.4 million. The deal was announced by Las Vegas Aces president and general manager Nikki Fargas, who made clear that keeping Young in an Aces uniform was a priority. For a player who has helped the franchise win three WNBA championships in four seasons, the investment makes complete sense.
Jackie Young’s $1.19 Million WNBA Contract: A Historic Milestone for Women’s Basketball
The significance of this contract goes well beyond the dollar figure. For years, the disparity between men’s and women’s professional basketball salaries has been a persistent and painful talking point. The fact that a WNBA player is now earning over one million dollars in a single contract is a concrete, undeniable step forward — and Jackie Young is the player who gets to carry that distinction.
Young herself expressed gratitude and excitement about continuing her journey with the organization that drafted her. She has spent her entire professional career in Las Vegas, and the loyalty runs clearly in both directions.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Aces organization and our amazing fans for their continued belief in me,” the four-time WNBA All-Star said. “From the moment I got drafted here, the Aces organization and entire Las Vegas community have made this place feel like home. I’m excited to get back to work and compete again for a championship.”
General Manager Nikki Fargas was equally emphatic about what Young brings to the franchise, both statistically and in terms of culture and competitive spirit.
“Jackie has been a foundational piece of our success here at the Aces,” Fargas said. “She brings an unmatched competitive drive and will to win that has led to raising three championship banners. She will continue to be a valuable asset to our roster with her re-signing with the Aces.”
From the No. 1 Draft Pick to WNBA Champion: Jackie Young’s Rise to Greatness
Young’s journey to this milestone began in 2019, when the Las Vegas Aces selected her as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft out of Notre Dame. While her first three seasons showed steady and promising development, it is the last four years that have defined her as one of the most complete guards in the league. The transformation has been remarkable to watch.
During this stretch, she earned four WNBA All-Star selections and was named to the All-WNBA second team in both 2023 and 2025. Her game expanded in every direction — scoring, playmaking, rebounding, and defensive pressure — developing her into a genuinely two-way player at the highest level of the sport.
Before her professional career, Young spent three seasons at Notre Dame, where she helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 2018 NCAA Championship. Her collegiate accolades included an Associated Press All-America honorable mention, a spot on the All-ACC second team, and the ACC Tournament MVP title. She averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game during her time there — a strong foundation for what was to come.
2025 Season Highlights: Jackie Young’s Best Year Yet
Young’s 2025 WNBA season was arguably the finest of her career. She averaged 16.5 points and 5.1 assists per game during the regular season, along with career bests of 4.5 rebounds per game and an outstanding 89.4 percent free-throw percentage. Those numbers alone would have been enough to make her one of the most impactful players in the league, but Young took it even further when the stakes were highest.
In the 2025 playoffs, she elevated her game to a level that firmly established her as a clutch performer. Young averaged a career-high 20.4 points and 5.5 assists per game through the postseason, performances that were pivotal in guiding the Aces to the 2025 WNBA championship. That ability to perform under pressure — to actually get better as the games get bigger — is what separates good players from great ones.
Additionally, Young was one of only seven players in the entire league to record a triple-double during the 2025 season, and one of just three players to do it more than once, achieving the feat on July 29 and August 27. That kind of all-around statistical dominance reflects a player who is no longer just a scorer, but a complete and versatile force on the court.
Jackie Young’s Career Statistics Place Her Among the Aces’ All-Time Greats
Beyond single-season numbers, Young’s career totals paint an even more impressive picture. Across 243 games with the Aces — placing her third in franchise history in that category — she has accumulated 3,412 points, 1,029 assists, and 1,002 rebounds. She also ranks third in steals with 271, reflecting her consistent defensive contribution throughout her career.
Her scoring average of 14.0 points per game ranks sixth in franchise history, while her field goal percentage of .467 places her fifth. She has also recorded 57 twenty-point games, 5 thirty-point games, and 174 games with at least 10 points — numbers that speak to both her consistency and her ability to take over when her team needs it most.
One particularly striking milestone is her win total. Young has accumulated 176 career wins before her 28th birthday — the most of any player in WNBA history at that age. That number quietly captures everything about what she represents: a winner, consistently, at the highest level of competition year after year.
Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and a Legacy Still Being Written
Young’s accomplishments extend well beyond the WNBA. She is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, representing the United States on the international stage and adding another layer to an already extraordinary resume. Her contributions at the Olympic level reflect the same qualities that have made her invaluable to the Aces — reliability, competitiveness, and the ability to perform when everything is on the line.
Originally from Princeton, Indiana, Young has built a legacy that reaches far beyond her hometown. Her re-signing with the Aces keeps one of the sport’s brightest stars exactly where her career has flourished, and the $1.19 million contract ensures that her historic mark on the league is now financial as well as athletic.
As the WNBA continues to grow in visibility, viewership, and commercial value, Jackie Young’s landmark deal serves as both a celebration of her individual excellence and a powerful signal of what the league is becoming. The first million-dollar player has arrived — and she has three championship banners on the wall to back it up.
