“I was crying. When I finally heard my name,” said an emotional Zaay Green, talking about her experience at the 2025 WNBA draft, where she was picked in the third round by the Washington Mystics. Green was instrumental to the Crimson Tide last year and started in all 33 games. Despite past ACL injuries on both of her knees, she persevered to prove her worth and got her fruit in the form of a WNBA contract.
And as she makes her leap into professional basketball, let’s learn about the financial benefits she will reap this season despite being waived.
What is Zaay Green’s net worth?
The exact net worth of Zaay Green is unknown, but one can estimate it to be a significant amount. She has multiple NIL deals in place right from her graduate college, and her move to Alabama, where a top-grade school, would have added to her net worth. She has a deal with the HBCU-focused apparel brand, The Anthony Lawrence Collection. She also partnered with Influxer to offer exclusive merchandise. With this WNBA experience under her belt, her value in the global market is set to increase further.
Zaay Green’s Contract Breakdown
Green was a promising prospect for the Washington Mystics, but they decided to go another way and released her. Here’s what she would have earned if she had stayed on the team:
Year
Team
Age
Status
Cap Annual
CashAnnual
CashCumulative
2025
Washington Mystics
25
voided
–
$66,079
$66,079
2026
Washington Mystics
26
voided
$67,401
$67,401
$133,480
2027
Washington Mystics
27
voided
$70,773
$70,773
$204,253
2028
Washington Mystics
28
Club
$80,883
$80,883
$285,136
2029
Washington Mystics
29
RFA
What is Zaay Green’s salary?
Since Green was a rookie drafted in the third round, she would have received the standard $66,079 in her first year. Now that she has been waived, she will receive only the daily compensation previously agreed upon in her specific contract. She can leverage this contract to a better salary overseas in Spain or Israel.
Why were Zaay Green’s contracts waived?
Green went up against tough competition at the Mystics. One of their only players with at least 3 years of experience was guard Sug Sutton, playing at the same position as Green. First-round draft pick and the immense talent that is Sonia Citron is also a guard, so cutting her was out of the question. You can’t have more than 12 players in the roster, so the Mystics had to let Green go even though she could have been useful in some cases.
A look at Zaay Green’s College and Professional Career
After being ranked No. 10 overall and the No. 2 guard in the HoopGurlz espnW Top 100, Green’s college career started at Tennessee. She cracked the SEC All-Freshman Team, starting 24 games and playing in all 32 as a freshman, averaging 9.6 points and 4.0 rebounds. Her sophomore season was cut short with an ACL injury, and she headed back home to Texas to slowly recover and get back. Then at Texas A&M, she was still getting back to her best, taking part in only 17 games for the Maroon & White, averaging nine minutes of playing time per contest.
She moved to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was back to the old Green, starting 26 games and averaging 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior. She further topped that next season, scoring 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, earning a mention in the All-CAA Defensive Team. The phones started ringing from elite schools after such a season, and Green chose Alabama as the place to finish her last year in college.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament – Mississippi State vs Tennessee, Mar 8, 2019 Greenville, SC, USA Tennessee Lady Volunteers guard Zaay Green 14 shoots the ball during the first half of game seven against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the women s SEC Conference Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports, 08.03.2019 12:21:34, 12307179, NPStrans, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Tennessee, Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, NCAA Womens Basketball PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJoshuaxS.xKellyx 12307179
The change did not bother her at all as she went on doing her stuff, totaling 519 points for the Crimson Tide, which was their most on the season, while averaging 15.7 points per game. It was not only the scoring but also creating opportunities for others as Green topped the assists charts, averaging 4.5 per game.
After such a season, a WNBA call-up was imminent, and she did get her name called by the Mystics, but she will have to put her WNBA dreams on hold for now. It’s still possible for any other team to call Green up, but it’s more likely that she will have to move abroad for opportunities before trying to get back next season with some experience.
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