WNBA star Angel Reese claims she can’t cover her everyday bills on $73,000 salary

WNBA star Angel Reese previously revealed that her basketball wage did not cover her bills.

Reese, 22, is a forward for WNBA side the Chicago Sky and is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the league.

And despite her popularity growing in recent years, she has been outspoken about salaries in women’s basketball.

In October 2024, she took to social media to explain how her paycheck of $73,000 hardly covered her $8,000 monthly rent which amounts to $96,000 per year.

“I just hope y’all know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese said during an Instagram livestream last year, via ESPN.

“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills, [the salary] isn’t enough to pay my car note, I wouldn’t even be able to eat, I wouldn’t be able to live,” she added.

“I’m living beyond my means!” joked the WNBA star.

And that was not the first time that she publicly discussed players’ wages in the WNBA.

But the 22-year-old has also explained how she is grateful for the amount she earns.

Angel Reese in action (Credit:Getty)

“Being able to play for what, 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,” she said in May 2024.

“Being able to make six figures within three months [in Unrivaled], being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better …. I think it’s amazing.”

Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 basketball league which features 36 WNBA players and offers the highest salaries in women’s sports history – with the average salary reportedly worth around $220,000 – close to the WNBA’s maximum base salary – according to AP.

While MARCA reports that the 36 players are paid at least $100,000 – and are also offered equity in the organisation.

However, the aforementioned figures are still a far cry away from the wages received by NBA stars, with Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry reportedly having earned $51.9m during the 2023/24 season.

In comparison, the highest-paid WNBA star was the Las Vegas Aces player Jackie Young who reportedly earns around $252,000 per year on her current contract.