Angel Reese’s recent confession about her WNBA salary not covering her rent definitely raised some eyebrows. During an Instagram Live, after attending the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, the 22-year-old basketball star revealed her WNBA paycheck isn’t enough to keep her afloat.
She mentioned that her rent alone is $8,000 a month, and her salary from the Chicago Sky doesn’t even make a dent in that bill. Reese candidly said, “I’m living beyond my means,” and it sparked a conversation about financial realities for WNBA players, but also about responsibility when it comes to managing money.
Reese is currently on a four-year contract with the Chicago Sky, where she’s earning about $73,000 annually. To put that in perspective, that’s just over $6,000 a month. So, when your rent alone is $8,000, that’s clearly not going to add up. And honestly, hearing that from someone as high-profile as Reese feels frustrating. It reminds us that even though these women are playing at the highest level, they’re not getting paid what they’re worth compared to their male counterparts in the NBA.
It’s not lost on any of us that the pay gap between male and female athletes is ridiculous.
WNBA players work just as hard as the men, but they’re bringing home a fraction of the paycheck. NBA players regularly sign multi-million dollar contracts, while WNBA players are making just enough to live. This doesn’t sit right with anyone who believes in equality.
But let’s get real for a second—while Reese has a valid point about her salary being too low, she also admitted that she’s living beyond her means. And that part of the story can’t be ignored.
Reese said it herself, “I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at [in Chicago].” But even more telling is when she joked that she “wouldn’t be able to eat” if she depended on her WNBA salary alone. This is where personal responsibility comes into play. Yes, she deserves more, but she also needs to make better financial decisions.
Now, I’m not saying the WNBA salaries are okay as they are—far from it. The league is growing, and the players deserve to see their bank accounts reflect that. But if you’re making $73,000 a year, choosing to live in a place that costs $8,000 a month is a decision that raises some questions. It’s about managing money and living within your means, just like many people in our own communities have to do every day.
The truth is, we’ve all been there. Some of us know what it’s like to stretch a paycheck to cover rent, bills, food, and everything else that comes with life. It’s not easy, and for Reese to be open about her financial struggles is a moment of realness that we can appreciate. But at the same time, you’ve got to live smart, and that means cutting back on some things when you’re living above what you can afford.
That being said, Reese is still making moves outside of the WNBA. Her salary from basketball may be low, but she’s bringing in a lot more money through endorsements, sponsorships, and her podcast. She’s got deals with major brands like Reebok, Beats by Dre, PlayStation, and more. In fact, she’s reportedly making over $1.8 million from those deals alone.
That’s a lot of money on the side, and it’s a reminder that women athletes, especially Black women athletes, have to hustle in different ways to make ends meet.
But why should they have to? That’s the real question. Why should these women, who are playing at the highest level, have to rely on side hustles just to live comfortably? It doesn’t seem right, and the WNBA needs to step up as it grows. The league is pulling in more attention, viewership is up, and fans are showing up. It’s time for the salaries to reflect that growth.
