Angel Reese appeared to throw shade at the WNBA as she discussed her salary in a recent social media post.
The Chicago Sky power forward is one of the brightest superstars in the league as she comes of a rookie year that saw her selected to play in the All-Star game.
Reese has more recently been competing in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league that provides women’s basketball players an alternative to earning money overseas during the WNBA offseason.
Her team, Rose BC, became the first-ever Unrivaled champion on Monday night, defeating Vinyl 62–54 in the finals.
Reese, who was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, did not feature in the final due to injury.
As Rose BC won the championship, all their players added a $50,000 bonus on top of their base salaries.
Soon after her squad pulled off their victory, Reese referenced the figure in an X post that read: “50K NEED DATTTTT”.
The Sky star then took shots at the WNBA as fellow basketball star Sydney Colson asked her to share some of her latest earnings.
“Hey Angel girl, just wanted to check in and see how (you’re) doing and just let you know I’m here for you if you need anything…especially if you need to get rid of $50k by tomorrow or anything like that,” veteran Colson, who plays for the Indiana Fever, joked.
“Hey sista. I’m doing well. Just won 50K on a flight,” Reese then responded, sharing the initial post.
“I know you are VERY aware, and I’m sorry to break it to you, but I’m on a rookie contract and that $50k was a little more than half of my contract, so I have to keep that to myself… Sorry.
“Give me a few years and I gotchu. Be well.”
Despite a standout debut season and a staggering NIL Valuation of $1.8m, Reese made just $73,439 in her first year in the WNBA as she is on a rookie contract.
Next season, she will earn a salary of $74,909, a figure she has previously said does not even cover her bills.
“I just hope y’all know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese said last October, after revealing she pays around $8,000 in rent per month.
“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. I’m living beyond my means.”
While her salary might be low for a player that is considered the second-biggest draw in the WNBA behind Caitlin Clark, and one who has helped draw more eyes to the product, Reese’s primary income comes from endorsements.
She has deals with the likes of Reebok, Beats by Dre, Wingstop and Xfinity.
Given the WNBA’s explosion in recent months, Reese has also suggested players have discussed a potential lockout if the league can’t agree to a better CBA for its stars.
“I need to be in the (players’ union) meetings because I’m hearing that if (the league) don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out,” she said on her Unapologetically Angel podcast earlier this month.
