Women’s college basketball has observed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. With the elevated recognition and commercial achievement from the sport, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position within their women’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with building powerhouse courses.

Below’s a consider the five optimum-paid out Ladies’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley proceeds for being the gold regular in Gals’s higher education basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.four million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head coach in Women of all ages's university basketball record. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the best of this checklist.

2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million

A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in school basketball historical past—Adult men's or Women of all ages’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and constant functionality have ensured valuable deal renewals. His current contract includes a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament operates. While UConn has confronted recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his value higher.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Believed Yearly Wage: $2.7 million

After A prosperous two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she gained three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her higher-profile arrival arrived using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.6 million deal, building her considered one of the very best-compensated Gals’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.

four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Approximated Annual Wage: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With multiple convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.

Her extended-time period effect and development of prime-tier expertise have created her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her existing offer consists of bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and scholar development.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not simply one of the highest-paid out coaches but will also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Closing 4 appearances.

Though VanDerveer has never been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her put among the all-time greats in coaching history.

A Modifying Landscape in Females's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the rising attractiveness and financial viability of women’s college basketball. Programs are attracting more national Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have gotten far more invested in Females's sports activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of progress—it’s a recognition of the effort, leadership, and good results these coaches deliver for their systems along with the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches currently direct the best way when it comes to earnings, several Many others are going up:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Each and every of such coaches has manufactured substantial strides with their respective courses and could crack to the top 5 in the approaching several years M88 as Ladies's basketball proceeds to develop.

Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. As the sport proceeds to grow in level of popularity and assistance, we could expect these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.

Gals’s college basketball isn’t just trying to keep rate—it’s setting the pace for the future of competitive athletics.