As a rookie, it’s hard work breaking through in the league. It was the same for Luisa Geiselsoder. After being drafted in 2020, she had to wait until 2025 to get her breakthrough. “I’m thrilled, because I’ve waited so long for this, and something always came up,” Geiselsöder said in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung after making the final roster of the Dallas Wings. “The dream was never gone. I just waited for the moment when I could go in with full confidence.” Geiselsoder is realising her dream in the WNBA, but her contract situation has not been the most straightforward in her first real season in the WNBA. Let’s dig deep and break down her contract with the Dallas Wings.
What are the terms and value of Luisa Geiselsöder’s current WNBA contract with the Dallas Wings?
Geiselsöder signed a 1-year contract worth $66,079 with the Dallas Wings for the 2025 season with no signing bonus. She will be an exclusive restricted free agent (ERFA) in 2026, which allows Dallas to retain her rights under specific conditions. She had initially signed a training camp contract, which was later converted to the standard salary for first-timers in the WNBA.
What was her rookie contract after being drafted in 2020?
Geiselsöder was selected 21st overall in Round 2 of the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. However, the 2020 WNBA season was postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, she signed a training camp contract with the Wings. Some bad luck hit the German international as she sustained a left ankle injury while competing in the Coupe de France. Due to her absence, her contract was suspended. She was later waived in January 2022 after not joining the team. As she did not participate in the training camp, she was not eligible for the daily allowance that players with that contract usually get.
Why did Luisa Geiselsöder delay joining the WNBA, and how did her overseas commitments affect her contract?
First, it was COVID-19 that delayed her arrival in the WNBA. Then it was an ankle injury along with some international commitments with her club in France, the Basket Landes. The global commitment also played a role in 2025 when her contract was temporarily suspended as she failed to report on time for the training camp. A similar thing took place in 2021, but she did not come at the time because of her injury.
The Wings suspended Geiselsoder’s contract just one day before the season began. She was held out until she returned from overseas play, allowing the Wings to sign a 13th player for the start of the WNBA season. Despite numerous hurdles, they wanted Geiselsoder that much, which is why they lured her away from other WNBA teams.
“Last year, several WNBA teams approached me,” Geiselsöder revealed. “Curt Miller was able to convince me with his concept. We’ve known each other for a long time. And his plan sounded perfect.”
Her contract was suspended once again in midseason as she left for the EuroBasket to play for Germany. She was allowed to return after the tournament concluded, and she remains a vital part of this Wings side. This was a pre-decided condition that Geiselsoder put forward before signing for Dallas. “Dallas would release me for the European Championship—that was also one of the reasons I chose the club,” she said.
Geiselsoder is a key player for the Wings as her role in the team has grown with time. She started as a role player, but she pushed her way into the starting lineup. After coming off the bench in her first four games, she began her first game against the Minnesota Lynx and hasn’t left since. In her 18 games, she has averaged 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds so far, continuing to team up with Paige Bueckers and rebuild this Wings side.
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