Chicago, August 2025 – Rising Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has ignited heated debate over player compensation in the WNBA after openly criticizing her rookie salary of just $75,000 per year.

The Stunning Transformation Of Angel Reese

A Rookie’s Reality Check

Reese, playing under a standard four-year rookie contract worth about $324,000, is making less than $75,000 this season. She revealed on Instagram Live that the paycheck barely covers her basic expenses.

“The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all… I wouldn’t even be able to live,” Reese said, noting that her rent alone costs nearly $8,000 per month.

Strike Talk and Rising Pressure

In a podcast appearance, Reese suggested that players are considering collective action if their pay demands aren’t met.

“If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out,” she warned, adding that she’s willing to wait “as long as it takes” for fair compensation.

While she acknowledged that WNBA players aren’t asking for NBA-level salaries, Reese insisted that her peers deserve a better share of the league’s growing revenues.

The Bigger Picture: WNBA vs. NBA

The pay gap between the WNBA and NBA is staggering. Average WNBA salaries hover around $102,000, compared with an NBA average of $13 million. Moreover, WNBA players receive only about 10% of league basketball-related income, whereas NBA players collect nearly 50%.

This structural disparity has fueled growing frustration, especially as the WNBA gains popularity through rising stars like Reese and Caitlin Clark.

Beyond the WNBA Paycheck

Fortunately for Reese, her income doesn’t end with her league contract. She earns significantly more through sponsorships, NIL deals, and independent leagues. Recently, she pocketed $50,000 in prize money at the Unrivaled tournament, calling the payout a “need” because her WNBA salary was insufficient.

She has also purchased her first home and helped pay off her mother’s debts thanks to off-court deals — underscoring how little the WNBA contributes to her financial stability.

Labor Movement Gaining Steam

Reese is not alone. Alongside Clark, Sonia Citron, and other young stars, she has become part of a growing movement demanding a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The current deal was rejected in October, and negotiations are now underway, coinciding with a $2.2 billion media rights agreement that many argue should raise player salaries dramatically.

At games, players have worn T-shirts declaring “Pay Us What You Owe Us”, making clear that they are ready to fight for economic justice.

A Pivotal Moment for the WNBA

The league is at a crossroads. On one hand, it is experiencing record viewership, higher attendance, and lucrative TV contracts. On the other, its stars are publicly voicing dissatisfaction with pay structures that they say undervalue their contributions.

Angel Reese’s bold comments have crystallized a larger truth: WNBA athletes are no longer willing to quietly accept the financial status quo. Whether the league’s leadership rises to the challenge may determine not just the future of its players, but the long-term growth of the sport itself.