WNBA star Angel Reese, known for her prowess on the court and her bold personality off it, is not only one of the most popular and visible figures in the league, but she’s also candid about the financial realities of being a professional women’s basketball player. In a recent Instagram Live session, Reese opened up about how her salary from the Chicago Sky, while significant by some standards, is nowhere near enough to cover her living expenses. Her comments have sparked conversation around athlete pay in women’s sports, especially in comparison to their male counterparts in leagues like the NBA.
Reese, who has had her fair share of controversies throughout her career, admitted that the hate she sometimes receives from fans doesn’t bother her. In fact, it does quite the opposite—it motivates her and even plays a part in funding her lifestyle. “Hating pays the bills, baby,” she said confidently during the Instagram Live stream. She then turned her attention to her WNBA salary, revealing the stark reality of how little it contributes to her overall income. “I just hope you know the WNBA doesn’t pay my bills at all,” Reese remarked. “I don’t even think it pays one of my bills.”
At that point, she humorously tried to calculate her rent in comparison to her earnings from the WNBA. “Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary. $74,000?” she wondered out loud. Her friend, who was off-camera, confirmed her rent was around $8,000 per month for her luxury residence. Shocked, Reese exclaimed, “I’m living beyond my means!”
Reese has been a standout player in the WNBA, leading the league in rebounding this season before suffering a season-ending wrist injury. However, even her stellar performance on the court doesn’t translate to financial stability through her WNBA salary alone. Her rookie contract, which is typical for many WNBA players, doesn’t come close to covering the cost of her upscale lifestyle in major cities like Chicago.
Despite the limitations of her WNBA earnings, Reese has been able to thrive financially due to her off-the-court endeavors. She has built a substantial income through a variety of endorsement deals, which began back during her college years at LSU. As a senior, she signed a major partnership with Reebok, one of approximately 20 endorsement deals that included major brands such as PlayStation, Raising Cane’s, McDonald’s, Coach, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse, and Amazon. These deals are reportedly worth around $1.7 million, which significantly supplements her income and enables her to live the lifestyle she enjoys.
In her Instagram Live session, Reese didn’t shy away from pointing out the stark contrast between her WNBA salary and her endorsement earnings. “Babe, if y’all thought that WNBA check don’t pay a thing,” she said bluntly. “Did that even pay my car note?” Reese humorously added that her WNBA salary wouldn’t even cover basic necessities. “I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to live.”
Reese’s transparency sheds light on a broader issue in women’s sports: the significant pay gap between female athletes and their male counterparts. While star NBA players can command multimillion-dollar contracts, WNBA players, even those who are among the best in the league, often have to rely on secondary sources of income to support themselves. This pay disparity highlights the challenges women in professional sports face, not just in basketball but across the board.
Though Reese is fortunate to have lucrative endorsement deals, her comments underscore the need for greater financial investment and support in women’s sports leagues. As women’s sports continue to grow in popularity, many fans and advocates are calling for an increase in salaries and better financial backing for athletes like Reese who give their all on the court.
In the meantime, Angel Reese will continue to dominate both in basketball and in business. Whether it’s grabbing rebounds or grabbing endorsement deals, she’s proving that even in the face of challenges, she’s going to win—on her own terms.
