WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL: The city’s highest-paid athlete has likely played his last game.
Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin is in the first year of a three-year, $68.36 million contract with Washington.
D.C.’s list of highest-paid athletes includes World Series winners, NBA and Stanley Cup champions — and, yes, even a two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive tackle.
According to Spotrac, a sports database that tracks salaries across professional sports, the top 25 highest-paid D.C. professional athletes are cumulatively worth a little more than $350 million in average annual salary (because of ties, there are actually 26 athletes on the list). The average salary contains base salary plus any incentives and bonuses averaged over the years of the contract.
You can see the top 25 in the gallery below.
Out of the top 25 highest-paid list, the Commanders have the most players with 10 — including Andrew Wylie, who won two Super Bowls with Kansas City, in case you were curious — followed by eight Wizards players and five Capitals players.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg ranks No. 1 on our list, despite not having played a game since June 2022. Signs are pointing to his impending retirement but, as it stands now, the 2019 World Series MVP remains on the list.
Who’s the best athlete on the list, you ask? Well, that’s up for debate, but it’s awfully hard to find someone who’s better at their sport than Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. The Great 8 is probably a couple seasons away from passing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goals leader, if he can maintain his health and scoring form. Gretzky has held the once-seemingly-unbreakable record since passing Gordie Howe in 1994.
Some athletes of note that didn’t make the list:
- D.C. United striker Christian Benteke is earning $4.43 million this season and is the team’s highest-paid player, according to Spotrac
- Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne earned $234,350 during the most recent season that ended for Washington in September; she’s now a free agent
- Spirit forward Trinity Rodman is in the second year of a four-year, $1.1 million contract with Washington
The city’s highest-paid athlete has likely played his last game.
Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin is in the first year of a three-year, $68.36 million contract with Washington.October 09, 2023By Drew Hansen
D.C.’s list of highest-paid athletes includes World Series winners, NBA and Stanley Cup champions — and, yes, even a two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive tackle.
According to Spotrac, a sports database that tracks salaries across professional sports, the top 25 highest-paid D.C. professional athletes are cumulatively worth a little more than $350 million in average annual salary (because of ties, there are actually 26 athletes on the list). The average salary contains a base salary plus any incentives and bonuses averaged over the years of the contract.
You can see the top 25 in the gallery below.
Out of the top 25 highest-paid list, the Commanders have the most players with 10 — including Andrew Wylie, who won two Super Bowls with Kansas City, in case you were curious — followed by eight Wizards players and five Capitals players.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg ranks No. 1 on our list, despite not having played a game since June 2022. Signs are pointing to his impending retirement but, as it stands now, the 2019 World Series MVP remains on the list.
Who’s the best athlete on the list, you ask? Well, that’s up for debate, but it’s awfully hard to find someone who’s better at their sport than Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. The Great 8 is probably a couple seasons away from passing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goals leader, if he can maintain his health and scoring form. Gretzky has held the once-seemingly-unbreakable record since passing Gordie Howe in 1994.
Some athletes of note that didn’t make the list:
- D.C. United striker Christian Benteke is earning $4.43 million this season and is the team’s highest-paid player, according to Spotrac
- Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne earned $234,350 during the most recent season that ended for Washington in September; she’s now a free agent
- Spirit forward Trinity Rodman is in the second year of a four-year, $1.1 million contract with Washington
