NFL agent cap 3%NBA agent cap 4%MLB agent cap 5%Top federal rate 2026 37%Bonus withholding over $1M 37%Texas state tax on wages 0%Florida state tax on wages 0%California top rate 13.3%NBA escrow 10% of each check held backNIL money 1099 income, add 15.3% self-employment taxAgent fees for team salary not deductible on your federal returnNFL players file taxes in about 10 to 14 states a year

WNBA | Phoenix, AZ

What a Phoenix Mercury contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for Phoenix Mercury players, from the WNBA minimum up. Federal tax, Arizona tax, the jock tax, and the agent, all in.

At a glance

Home games taxed by
Arizona
Top rate there
2.50%
Rank for take-home
4 of 15
WNBA agent cap
5%
Road duty days (est.)
24%
Taxing places visited
11

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$270,000min$83,283$24,200$162,517 (60%)
$400,000$136,404$32,000$231,596 (58%)
$750,000$281,730$53,000$415,270 (55%)
$1,200,000$475,889$80,000$644,111 (54%)

Single, living in Arizona, max agent fee, 1% advisor fee, and $8K a year for a CPA and lawyer. Estimates for education.

Statement of earnings

$750K with the Phoenix Mercury

One season. Lives in Arizona. Single.

Keeps 55%
Gross pay$750,000
TaxFederal income tax($223,600)

Top federal rate is 37% on taxable income over $640,600. Reduced by a credit for tax paid to Canada.

TaxMedicare($15,825)

1.45% on every dollar, plus 0.9% on pay over $200,000. No cap.

TaxSocial Security($11,439)

6.2% on the first $184,500 only.

TaxArizona state tax (where you live)($14,091)

Your home state taxes all of your pay, minus a credit for tax you paid other states.

TaxJock tax (road games)($16,774)

About 24% of your duty days are on the road. Road states and cities with an income tax each take a cut. Estimated across 11 taxing places your league visits.

FeeAgent (5%)($37,500)

Taken from the gross, before taxes. For team salary it is not deductible on your federal return.

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($7,500)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($8,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$415,270

You keep

55%

Phoenix Mercury pay questions

Do Phoenix Mercury players pay state income tax?+

Yes. Arizona taxes the pay earned on duty days in the state, even for players who live somewhere else. The top rate is 2.50%.

How much does a WNBA minimum salary player on the Phoenix Mercury take home?+

On the WNBA minimum of $270,000, a single player living in Arizona keeps about $162,517 after taxes and a 5% agent fee, or about 60%.

How does the Phoenix Mercury rank for take-home pay?+

At $750,000 a season, the Phoenix Mercury rank 4 of 15 WNBA teams for what a player keeps, assuming he or she lives in the team's state. The top team on that list is the Dallas Wings.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.