MW Showing that she makes a lot more than her $75,000 WNBA salary, Angel Reese buys a home after 'retiring her momma'

By Weston Blasi

Reese has been vocal about the need to increase player salaries in the WNBA amid its rapid growth

'Retired my momma ... became a homeowner ... all at 22. So blessed.'

That was Angel Reese, star WNBA player for the Chicago Sky, discussing some recent financial successes in a social-media post.

Reese also posted a photo of herself holding a large, ceremonial key to announce that she bought a home.

Her homeownership posts come a few months after she announced that she retired her mom by paying off her mortgage on an episode of her podcast, "Unapologetically Angel."

Reese, one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, has been at the center of the ongoing discussion about the women's basketball league's player salaries.

While playing college basketball at Louisiana State University, Reese made approximately $1.8 million during her senior year through name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. But it's unclear how much she made during her first season in the WNBA - although her base salary was considerably less.

Reese, 22, earned a base $73,439 salary as a WNBA rookie, and although this amount is comparable to the median U.S. household income, it is considered low for a professional athlete.

But she also has marketing and endorsement deals with McDonald's $(MCD)$, Beats by Dre $(AAPL)$ and Reese's Pieces $(HSY)$, in addition to her successful podcast. And Shaquille O'Neal, the new president of basketball operations for Reebok and a fellow LSU alum, signed Reese to a sponsorship contract in 2023 which will feature her own shoe.

O'Neal has said that he is a mentor to Reese, and added that nobody is "making a bigger impact on the game right now" than she is. O'Neal's net worth was approximately $130 million in 2009, per Forbes, and is likely much higher now.

But the amount Reese earns from these deals isn't available.

Reese has been open about her WNBA salary, however, and revealed on social media last year that the $73,439 base pay was insufficient to cover her living expenses, including her $8,000 monthly rent.

"I don't even know my salary for the WNBA, does that even pay my car note?" Reese said at the time. "I don't even think it pays one of my bills. I'm living beyond my means!"

See: Here's how much money Paige Bueckers and the other WNBA 2025 draft picks will earn

While still in college, Reese also had sponsorship deals with brands including Goldman Sachs $(GS)$, Tampax $(PG)$, Airbnb $(ABNB)$, Amazon $(AMZN)$ and PlayStation $(SONY)$.

In addition to her WNBA salary and off-court deals, Reese also plays in Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league that plays its games during the WNBA offseason. Unrivaled, which recently signed No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Paige Bueckers, pays players an average salary of $220,000.

Reese's post about financial wins comes at an uncertain time for the WNBA and its players.

While the league has become increasingly popular, its top rookies in 2025 will still earn around the same that Reese and other stars like Caitlin Clark did in 2024.

The WNBA players union has been dissatisfied with low player salaries, especially given the league's growth. This led them to opt out of their collective bargaining agreement in October. The WNBA's current CBA expires at the end of the 2025-26 season and if a new agreement isn't reached, a work stoppage, such as a lockout or strike, could occur.

WNBA players make a much lower percentage of their league's revenue compared to other major U.S. sports. NBA players earn between 49% and 51% of basketball-related income, NFL players receive 48% and NHL players get 50%. Yet WNBA players receive only 9.3% of the league's total revenue.

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-Weston Blasi

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April 16, 2025 13:46 ET (17:46 GMT)

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