Sky’s Angel Reese drops truth bomb on WNBA salary concerns
Former LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese has had a promising start to her professional career. The Chicago Sky selected Reese with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft. A woman of several business endeavors, Reese had no problem transitioning to the WNBA pay scale. Moreover, the star forward revealed eye-opening insight that might change some perspectives on league contracts.
Angel Reese spoke positively about the WNBA salary while tying in the help her endorsement deals give her amid her transition from college to professional basketball.
“People thought me leaving college, I would take a huge pay gap. I wasn’t getting paid in college, so that check that I do get [in the WNBA] is a bonus. I mean, being able to play for 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,” Reese said in an interview with ESPN.
Reese wants to maximize her earnings, but her basketball endeavors go beyond a paycheck.
“I play the game I love not for the money. I play because I love basketball. And now that I’m a pro and being able to continue to work with these plans long-term, I think it’s something that people don’t really realize,” Reese added.
The rookie further explained that there are players signed with various brands and thinks it is awesome that companies allow them to embody their products. Reese added one more valuable insight on the outlook of WNBA pay.
“I want people to know that the deals don’t just stop in college. When you go to the pros, they continue. And I feel l like they’ve grown even more. I wasn’t able to do a lot of things in college because I was tied to certain things. Now that I’m a pro, I can do so much more,” Reese shared.
From Reese’s perspective, playing in the WNBA can have a promising financial upside compared to college. Perhaps the Sky rookie’s insight will encourage college players looking to jump to the next level.