Opals star Ezi Magbegor lands USD $1M pay rise

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Opals centre Ezi Magbegor is the equal highest paid Australian women's basketballer in the WNBA in 2026.

Magbegor, 26, was one of 10 players on 10 different teams to receive the core offer, signing a three-year contract with the Seattle Storm worth USD $3.75 million (approximately AUD $5.2 million) ahead of the 2026 season.

While Australian teammate Alanna Smith, 29, joined the Dallas Wings as a free agent on a three-year deal worth USD $3.75 million (approximately AUD $5.2 million) under the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement. Her contract averages USD $1.25 million per season, with a 2026 base salary of USD $1.19 million.

Magbegor will earn almost six times the amount per season under the new collective bargaining agreement per year versus the old CBA.

Single-Year Increase (USD)

• 2025 → 2026 jump:
  > $186K → $1.25M
  > +572% increase

Total Value Comparison

• First 7 years combined: $689K
• Next 3 years: $3.75M

She will earn 5.4× more in 3 years than her entire first seven seasons

WNBA free agency started on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (AEST) and Magbegor, along with co-WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith, were highly coveted defensive bigs.

The new collective bargaining agreement has created at least 10 million-dollar a season players for the first time in the league's history.

Ezi Magbegor: Old CBA vs New CBA

🇦🇺 Ezi Magbegor – Key Details

Full Name: Ezi Magbegor
Pronunciation: EH-zee MAG-buh-gore
Position: Forward–Centre
Shoots: Right
Height / Weight: 1.93m / 82kg
Born: August 13, 1999 — Wellington, New Zealand
High School: Lake Ginninderra (Canberra, ACT)
WNBA Team: Seattle Storm
Draft: 2019 — Round 1, Pick 12

Accolades

• WNBA Champion (2020)
• WNBA All-Star (1x)
• WNBA All-Defensive Team (4x)
• Defensive Player of the Year contender (Top 3 finish)

Career Snapshot (WNBA)

• Games: 206
• Points: 9.7 ppg
• Rebounds: 6.0 rpg
• Assists: 1.7 apg
• FG%: 51.8%
• 3PT%: 33.2%
• FT%: 75.2%
• PER: 18.0
• Win Shares: 20.7

Ezi Magbegor's Career Statistics