The Blubber

Angel Reese may be a prominent figure in the WNBA, but her earnings from the league are far from enough to cover her expenses. The Chicago Sky’s All-Star rookie recently revealed that her $73,439 salary doesn’t come close to making ends meet.

“I just hope y’all know the WNBA doesn’t pay my bills at all,” Reese said during a recent Instagram live session, as reported by ESPN. “I don’t even think that pays one of my bills.”

Reese shared that her rent alone is $8,000 per month, which totals $96,000 annually—more than her entire WNBA salary. “I’m living beyond my means,” she joked.

She further explained that her WNBA salary wouldn’t even be enough to “pay my car note,” laughing that she “wouldn’t even be able to eat” or “live” on her earnings from the league alone.

This isn’t the first time Reese has been candid about her pay. In May, she told ESPN that her primary income comes from endorsement deals, and that her WNBA salary is more like a “bonus.”

“Being able to play for four to five months and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements I’m doing, I think it’s a plus for me,” she said.

Reese has partnerships with brands such as Reebok, Beats by Dre, and Reese’s chocolates. To supplement her income, she also participates in Unrivaled, a new 3v3 league that takes place in Florida during the offseason. In the past, WNBA players have traveled to countries like Russia to earn more money.

“A lot of us don’t want to go overseas, but some people have to, unfortunately,” Reese said in August. “Making six figures within three months in Unrivaled, being housed in Miami, and getting better... I think it’s amazing.”

Currently, the highest-paid WNBA player is Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young, who earned just over $250,000 this season. In contrast, the NBA’s salary leader, Steph Curry, earned $51.9 million last year with the Golden State Warriors and will make $55.7 million this upcoming season.

At the CNBC Changemakers Event earlier this year, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged that while the league is making strides, there’s still much work to do compared to men’s leagues that are "75 to 120 years old."

“We’re entering our 28th season, and if you look at other leagues at 28 seasons in, we’re further ahead,” Engelbert said. “But we know there’s still a lot of work to do, and it’s all about building the ecosystem around us that drives revenue.”