"The WNBA don't pay for my bills" - Angel Reese said her WNBA salary is not even enough to pay for her personal expenses
When she entered the WNBA, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was already one of the most popular women's basketball players in the United States. Despite that, the WNBA salary scale meant that she had to accept a maximum contract of $324,383, which is good for four WNBA seasons to play for the Sky.
With an average salary of $81,096 per season and a $73,749 actual pay check for her rookie WNBA campaign in 2024, the former LSU star made it clear that long after the likes of WNBA legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird played overseason during the offseason to augment their incomes, league salary in the WNBA was still incredibly too low.
"I just hope y'all know," Reese said on Instagram Live, "The WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills. Literally. I'm living beyond my means."
Her annual rent alone exceeds her WNBA income
After she was drafted by the Sky, Reese chose to stay at a loft-style apartment in Chicago's South Loop area. The high-rise abode has stunning views of the city skyline and Lake Michigan. It also has upscale amenities such as a gym, indoor pool, and basketball court, among others.
Reese went on to mention that she spends $8,000 per month on rent expenses alone. If we multiply that by 12 months, that's $96,000 per year, which is by itself already more than what she makes per season from her WNBA contract.
"That check that I do get here is a bonus," Reese said at the start of her rookie season. "Being able to play for what, four to five months, and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I'm doing, I think it's a plus for me."No need to play overseas
However, the thing with Reese is that, regardless of how much money she would make in the WNBA, she would get paid handsomely one way or the other. As one of college basketball's top female stars, Angel had an NIL valuation of $1.8 million before she even entered the WNBA, owing to deals with the likes of Reebok, Topps, Airbnb, Tampax, Hershey's Reese candy, and Beats by Dre.
Aside from her endorsements, Reese also played for the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled, which paid players six-figure salaries ranging from $100K to $250K. Although it wasn't revealed how much she made from the league, Angel's Rose Basketball Club won the inaugural title, which earned her an additional $50,000 championship bonus.
Although Angel will not make more than $93,636 until at least the 2027 WNBA season, she is surely not worried about paying her $8,000 monthly rent in Chicago or even living beyond her means if she wants to. That's because with the amount of money she makes on the side, Reese earns more than enough to sustain her personal needs.
While the WNBA salary continues to be an issue today between the players and the league, top stars like Angel are no longer forced to spend the WNBA offseason playing overseas just to make ends meet, as Taurasi and Bird did during their era.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
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