Chicago Sky's Angel Reese, the up-and-coming forward, candidly shared on her Instagram live session that her WNBA paycheque is far from sufficient to cover her living expenses.
Having been picked seventh in the 2024 WNBA Draft out of LSU, the newcomer boasts a notable $73,469 salary, despite being one of the faces of the league.
With a robust average of 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds to her name, she clinched a close second in the competition for Rookie of the Year.
Reese didn't shy away from expressing her financial struggles saying, "Hating pays my bills, baby," and clearly outlined, "The WNBA doesn't pay my bills at all. I don't even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I'm trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. I'm gonna do the math real quick. I don't even know my [WNBA] salary."
She revealed the disparity between her earnings and expenditure by stating, "I'm living beyond my means. My rent is more than that, it's $8,000."
As far as salaries go in the league, Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces tops the chart with the most substantial annual income. Preceding the 2024 season, the ace bagged a two-year contract worth a staggering S504,900.
It's common knowledge that many players in the WNBA need to seek endorsement deals or commit to playing internationally during the off-season to pad their pockets. However, playing abroad isn't devoid of dangers.
Brittany Griner from Phoenix Mercury landed in hot water after being apprehended in Russia due to vape cartridges containing cannabis oil found in her bags. In a tale of misfortune, Nika Muhla rookie guard for Seattle Stormsuffered a devastating ACL tear during her debut match with Besiktas in October.
Storm ace Gabby Williams opened up about her choice to play abroad, emphasising the financial aspect: "If I make a choice to make more money, whatever, and then teams are mad that I don't come back, but that's how it is. The WNBA, if you want us to be here, you have to pay us more. It's business, it's how it works, and that's all that means."
Reese has penned deals with an impressive roster of sponsors such as Reece's Pieces, Reebok, Beats by Dre, and Panini America. A special "Barbie Game Night" was hosted for Reese by the Sky, in recognition of her partnership with Mettel.
The celebrated forward sported custom sneakers with Reese's Pieces-inspired motifs throughout part of the 2024 WNBA season. Talking about the inspiration behind the shoes, Reese mentioned, "I wanted to deliver something that they could proudly wear this season," and asserted her identity by saying, "We worked as quickly as possible with Reese's to build a collection that really reflected who I am: bold, vibrant and unapologetically me."
Reese committed to the new Unrivaled basketball league, established by stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, set to commence in January 2025. Promising to shake things up, this 3v3 league will shine a spotlight on some of WNBA's finest and proposes lucrative six-figure salaries for its players.
Stewart commented on the new venture, focusing on the historical income dynamics for female players: "For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income. With Unrivaled, we're revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay."
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