For most international players, making it to the WNBA is the ultimate dream. But the global basketball scene has plenty of elite platforms to shine, and Marieme Badiane is proof of that. The 6-foot-4 forward has spent the majority of her career in France, including a key stint with Tony Parker’s ASVEL, carving out a name for herself as one of the top talents in Europe.
Badiane was vital in helping France reach the championship game at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. On top of that, the 30-year-old played a vital role in Fenerbahçe’s dominant run last spring, winning both the FIBA EuroLeague and the Turkish KBSL titles. When it came to the WNBA, Badiane’s luck wasn’t great.
The center was first declared for the 2016 WNBA Draft but went undrafted. Fast forward to 2024, and everything changed! After a stellar season with Fenerbahçe–where she helped the team win both the EuroLeague and KBSL titles and a silver medal finish with France at the Paris Olympics– she was back on the radar. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and on February 1, the Minnesota Lynx rewarded her rise by officially signing her.
“Marième was a sought-after international prospect following her successful showing at the Paris Olympics,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve had said via the team statement. “She will be a great fit for the Lynx culture and on-court play to bolster our post depth.”
But after logging just 11 minutes on the court, the Lynx announced they were waiving Marieme Badiane. With her WNBA journey paused for now, let’s take a closer look at her estimated net worth and the salary she was set to earn during her short stint with the Lynx.
What is Marieme Badiane’s net worth?
According to Sporty Salaries, Marieme Badiane’s estimated net worth stands at around $300,000. For over a decade, Badiane has hopped around the world, from France to the States, to land at 8 different teams, and that figure reflects her earnings from those stints combined. This figure also includes the income from various sponsorship deals.
At the moment, Sporty Salaries is the only outlet reporting her estimated net worth, and no other reputable sources have confirmed this figure. As soon as more verified information becomes available, we’ll make sure to update this section.
What is Marieme Badiane’s contract breakdown?
According to Spotrac, Marieme Badiane signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Lynx worth $66,079. In 2025, she is set to earn a base salary of $66,079, carrying an equal cap hit. Unfortunately, details of her contracts from her time playing overseas have not been disclosed publicly. Once that information becomes available, we’ll be sure to update this section.
What is Marieme Badiane’s salary?
For those unfamiliar with the process, here’s a quick breakdown of how waivers work in the WNBA. When a player is waived, they’re placed on waivers for 48 hours. During that window, any team can place a claim, but there’s a catch. If a team does claim the player, they must take on the full terms of the existing contract. That’s why it’s not too common to see waived players get picked up immediately. If no team makes a claim within those 48 hours, the player clears waivers and becomes a free agent, free to sign with any team of their choice. It’s the same for Badiane’s case as well!
For the 2025 season, as mentioned above, Badiane’s salary with the Lynx was set at $66,079. That same amount also counts as her cap hit and dead cap value. What comes next for her remains to be seen. If no other WNBA team claims her during the 48-hour waiver period, she will clear waivers and officially become a free agent, open to signing with any team.
Marieme Badiane’s Career Earnings
Unfortunately, details about Marieme Badiane’s career earnings outside of her 2025 salary are currently unavailable. We’ll make sure to update this section as soon as more information comes to light.
Why was Marieme Badiane Waived from Minnesota Lynx
One noticeable trend in this WNBA season’s waivers has been the release of several European players ahead of the EuroBasket tournament. For those unfamiliar, EuroBasket is Europe’s version of the AmeriCup, a continental championship that sees top national teams compete. The key difference? European players tend to commit to their national squads instead of playing in the W. While teams like the USA and Canada often send rosters without WNBA talent, European nations frequently feature players who step away from their WNBA duties just to represent their countries.
Players with major roles on WNBA championship contenders, like Seattle’s Gabby Williams (France) or Mercury’s Satou Sabally(Germany) have already decided to opt out of the tournament to focus on the league. But for others who don’t play as big a role in the WNBA and are stars for their national teams, EuroBasket is the priority. Rather than holding onto these players, while they head overseas, WNBA teams are freeing up those spots to add depth and keep their rosters flexible.
Well, Badiane’s case is no different. With a limited role on the Lynx roster, she’s chosen to suit up for EuroBasket instead. As a result, Minnesota made the call to part ways with the 6-foot-4 center.
A look at Marieme Badiane’s College and Professional Career
Hailing from Brest, France, Marieme Badiane began her basketball journey with Centre Fédéral, where she spent three years. Badiane then signed her first professional deal with Roche Vendée in Ligue 2. In case you are wondering why? She chose the club specifically to focus on finishing her biology degree.
After a year with Roche Vendée, Badiane took her talents to another Ligue 2 side, Champagne Basket Reims. It was considered strange at that time, as she had offers from Belgian teams and top-flight French clubs. But the promising post player had decided to stay for another season and finish her studies.
Since then, Badiane has suited up for top teams like Mondeville, ASVEL (Tony Parker’s club), BLMA, and most recently, Fenerbahçe. She helped the club win EuroLeague and KBSL titles and played alongside teammates Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride. But the French international saved her best for the biggest stage of all.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Marieme Badiane was a standout for a French team that nearly upset Team USA in the gold medal game. Across six games, she showed off her all-around game. She averaged 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals in just over 26 minutes per game. You know what came next, right?
Badiane’s international success finally earned her a shot in the WNBA, but with EuroBasket 2025 on the horizon, her journey has come to a temporary halt. In her rookie W season with the Lynx, she only saw the floor for 11 minutes across three games. Those 11 minutes resulted in 2 steals and a rebound. But this is far from the end. With her resume and upside, it’s only a matter of time before she gets another shot in the league.
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