How Much Does Angel Reese Make In The WNBA? Unpacking Her Earnings

You see, Angel Reese, a prominent figure on the Chicago Sky, has become a central point in discussions about player compensation in women's basketball. Her journey from a top college earner in NIL deals to a WNBA rookie has put a spotlight on the financial realities for many players in the league. It's a picture that, in some ways, might surprise you.

This article will break down Angel Reese's WNBA salary, explore her significant earnings beyond the court, and touch on the broader conversation about player pay in the league. We'll look at the numbers, discuss the context, and, you know, really get into what her financial situation actually looks like.

Table of Contents

• Angel Reese: A Quick Look
• Understanding the WNBA Rookie Contract
• Salary vs. Living Expenses: The Viral Discussion
• The Real Income Driver: Endorsement Deals
• The WNBA Salary Landscape: A Broader Conversation
• Addressing the Meme: $1400 a Week?
• Looking Ahead: Angel Reese's Future Earnings
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• The Bigger Picture: Angel Reese's Income and Impact

Angel Reese: A Quick Look

Before we get into the financial specifics, it's probably good to have a little background on Angel Reese herself. She's a very recognizable player, known for her impactful presence on the court and her strong personality.

Angel Reese, you know, really made a name for herself during her college years, becoming a top earner in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. This background is actually quite important when we talk about her overall financial standing now that she's in the professional league.

Understanding the WNBA Rookie Contract

So, let's talk about the official numbers regarding Angel Reese's WNBA contract. It's a very clear starting point for understanding her league earnings. As reported by Spotrac in April, Angel Reese signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Sky, a deal valued at $324,383.

For her first year in the WNBA, her rookie season, Angel Reese's starting salary is around $73,000. To be precise, she'll earn $73,439 in her initial year with the Chicago Sky. This salary, you know, aligns with the league's standard rookie contract scale, which is pretty much how these things work for new players coming in.

The contract isn't static, though. Her salary is set to increase each season. For instance, her official base salary for the 2025 WNBA season is listed as $74,909, which is, you know, a slight bump up. It's also worth noting that the fourth year of her deal is a team option, which is a common feature in professional sports contracts.

This structure, with increasing salaries over the contract term and a team option, is actually quite typical for WNBA rookie deals. It provides a bit of stability for the player while also giving the team some flexibility for the future, which is, you know, just how these things are often set up.

Salary vs. Living Expenses: The Viral Discussion

Now, this is where the conversation around Angel Reese's WNBA salary really gets interesting, and, you know, it's something that caught a lot of attention. Angel Reese herself spoke quite openly about her WNBA salary and how it compares to her living expenses, and this, you know, truly highlighted a significant point for many players in the league.

She candidly revealed that her monthly rent is $8,000. If you do the math, that means her rent costs her $96,000 a year. So, when you put her rookie salary of $73,439 next to that annual rent figure, you can see a pretty stark difference. Her $74,000 annual salary, as she put it, is actually quite low when compared to her housing costs.

This comparison, you know, quickly went viral, leading to jokes and discussions about "living beyond her means." However, Angel Reese was really just making light of a serious issue, highlighting the disparity between player salaries and the cost of living, especially in cities where teams are located. It's a point that, in a way, brings a lot of focus to the financial realities faced by WNBA players.

While her starting salary is roughly in line with the median household income in the U.S., the reality of professional athlete living expenses, particularly rent in major cities, can make that salary feel quite different. This situation, you know, pretty much underscores why there's such a strong push for higher pay within the league.

The Real Income Driver: Endorsement Deals

So, if her WNBA contract isn't covering her rent, you might be wondering how Angel Reese is doing financially. Well, the truth is, she's doing just fine, but the WNBA forward is not earning the majority of her money from her contract with the Chicago Sky. This is, you know, a really important distinction to make.

Reese has emerged as not only a prominent player but also a significant personality, and this has translated into a very robust portfolio of endorsement deals. She has partnerships with major brands like Reebok, PlayStation, and Beats by Dre, just to name a few. These deals are, you know, where a substantial portion of her income actually comes from.

Her success in securing these endorsements is, in some respects, a continuation of her impressive earning power during her college years. As a top NIL earner, she already had a strong foundation in leveraging her personal brand for financial gain. This experience, you know, clearly prepared her for the opportunities available in the professional sphere.

Therefore, while her WNBA salary provides a base, it's her off-court ventures that truly make up the bulk of her financial picture. This model, where endorsements far outweigh league salaries, is, you know, actually quite common for many high-profile athletes, especially in leagues where base pay might be lower.

The WNBA Salary Landscape: A Broader Conversation

Angel Reese's situation, you know, really fits into a much larger conversation about WNBA salaries. The WNBA salaries are historically lower than those in the NBA, and this has been a consistent point of discussion and advocacy for players. Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has actually involved herself directly in this discourse, as players continue to fight for better rights from the league.

This primarily centers on higher pay, with the aim of improving the overall financial well-being of all players. Reese, a player who played a very major role in the league's increased viewership and popularity, has, in a way, become a symbol of this ongoing struggle. Her candidness about her own salary has only amplified the discussion, which is, you know, something many players appreciate.

The league has seen increased viewership and attention, partly thanks to players like Reese, yet the salaries, while improving, still present challenges for many. The fact that a player of her stature is earning a base salary that doesn't easily cover basic living expenses in a major city, you know, really puts the spotlight on the need for continued growth in player compensation. It's a clear indicator of the financial realities that players are pushing to change.

This ongoing advocacy is, you know, quite important for the future of the league, as attracting and retaining top talent often depends on competitive compensation. Players are, in some respects, asking for their pay to reflect their contributions to the league's growing success and visibility.

Addressing the Meme: $1400 a Week?

You might have seen a viral meme circulating that claims Angel Reese said something like, "Y'all make $1400 a week, I make $1400 in 7 days." This quote, you know, pretty much became a widespread joke, but it's important to clarify the truth behind it. The jokes, as a matter of fact, keep rolling, but that quote is entirely fabricated.

The truth is, Angel Reese did not say that. The meme is based on a fabricated quote that went viral, playing on the public's perception of athlete salaries and, you know, perhaps a misunderstanding of how WNBA pay works. It's a classic example of how quickly misinformation can spread online, especially when it involves public figures.

Her actual rookie salary, as we discussed, is $73,439 for the year. If you were to break that down weekly, it would be a bit more than $1400, but the specific quote attributed to her about earning $1400 in 7 days is, you know, simply not true. It's a clear instance where a viral moment got twisted from the original context of her discussing her rent versus salary.

So, while the meme was quite funny for some, it's, you know, really important to distinguish between actual statements and fabricated content when talking about public figures and their finances. It's a good reminder to always check the source, which is, you know, something we all should do.

Looking Ahead: Angel Reese's Future Earnings

As Angel Reese continues her career in the WNBA, her earnings from her league contract are set to increase. We know that her rookie salary with the Sky was $73,439, and it will, you know, increase to $74,909 during her sophomore season with the Sky in 2025. This gradual increase is part of the standard rookie contract scale, which is, you know, how these things typically progress.

Her contract with the Chicago Sky is for four years, and her salary will continue to rise each season, reaching its highest point in the fourth year, which, as mentioned earlier, is a team option. This structure means that her WNBA earnings will, in a way, steadily grow over the course of her initial deal, which is, you know, a pretty standard trajectory for players.

Beyond her base salary, her potential for future earnings through endorsements remains very high. Given her established brand and her role as a face of the WNBA, it's very likely that her off-court income will continue to be the primary driver of her overall financial success. Her ability to attract major deals is, you know, a testament to her widespread appeal and marketability.

So, while her WNBA contract provides a stable foundation, her financial picture is, you know, clearly much broader and more dynamic, largely driven by her commercial partnerships. She plays for the Chicago Sky in 2025, and her continued presence in the league will, in some respects, only enhance her value both on and off the court.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Angel Reese's starting salary in the WNBA?

Angel Reese's starting salary in her rookie WNBA season is $73,439. This figure is part of her four-year, $324,383 contract with the Chicago Sky, which, you know, aligns with the league's standard rookie pay scale.

Does Angel Reese make more money from endorsements or her WNBA contract?

Angel Reese is doing just fine financially, but she is not earning the majority of her money from her contract with the Chicago Sky. She has significant endorsement deals with brands like Reebok, PlayStation, and Beats by Dre, which, you know, represent the bulk of her income.

How does Angel Reese's salary compare to her living expenses?

Angel Reese spoke candidly about her WNBA salary and how it compares to her living expenses, including her monthly $8,000 rent. This means her annual rent is $96,000, which is, you know, significantly more than her starting WNBA salary of around $73,000.

The Bigger Picture: Angel Reese's Income and Impact

So, when we look at the question of how much Angel Reese makes in the WNBA, the answer is, you know, more nuanced than just her league salary. While her rookie contract with the Chicago Sky provides a base of $73,439, which will increase to $74,909 in her sophomore season, it's actually her substantial endorsement deals that truly paint the picture of her financial success.

Her candidness about her salary versus her $8,000 monthly rent has, in a way, shone a very bright light on the financial realities faced by many WNBA players. This discussion, you know, contributes to the ongoing discourse about higher pay and better rights for athletes in the league, a fight that players continue to champion.

Angel Reese has emerged as a truly significant figure, not only on the court but also in terms of increasing the league's visibility and sparking important conversations. Her financial situation, a blend of league earnings and robust endorsement income, is, you know, a powerful example of how modern athletes build their careers and financial stability. It's a testament to her marketability and the growing appeal of women's basketball.

To learn more about the WNBA's pay structure, you can actually look up information on their collective bargaining agreement. You can also learn more about the Chicago Sky on our site, and, you know, you can find more details about player contracts and league news by exploring related articles on this page. It's a topic that's, you know, always evolving, and staying informed helps us appreciate the full scope of these athletes' careers.