How Angel Reese is capitalizing on her model in Chicago (3:57)
Michele Steele particulars how Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese has taken the model she developed in school and expanded on it on the professional degree. (3:57)
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Michele Steele, ESPN ReporterOct 17, 2024, 10:31 PM ET
Amid unprecedented rankings, curiosity and attendance, one of many WNBA’s most marketable stars says the cash she makes as a participant would not come near protecting her bills.
“I simply hope y’all know,” Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese stated Wednesday on Instagram Reside, “the WNBA do not pay my payments in any respect. I do not even assume it pays one in all my payments. Actually.”
Reese disclosed a month-to-month rental fee of $8,000 per thirty days, or $96,000 per yr, dwarfing the $73,439 she made this season as a rookie with the Sky.
She added jokingly, “I am dwelling past my means!”
Make no mistake, Reese is an enviable place relative to lots of her WNBA friends; On3 gave her a $1.8 million title, picture and likeness valuation her senior yr at LSU, placing her among the many high 10 highest-earning ladies athletes. Reese instructed ESPN in Might that she was making extra money as an endorser and influencer within the execs.
“That test that I do get here’s a bonus,” Reese stated at the beginning of the season. “With the ability to play for what, 4 to 5 months, and get $75,000 on high of the opposite endorsements that I am doing, I believe it is a plus for me.”
Reese has offers with endorsers, together with Reebok, Good American, Tampax, magnificence model Mielle, Beats by Dr. Dre and Hershey’s Reese’s Items sweet. She sells Angel Reese-branded merchandise on her web site and began a podcast in September referred to as “Unapologetically Angel,” drawing consideration with friends Sheryl Swoopes and Dwyane Wade.
She additionally revealed plans to affix Unmatched, a brand new 3-on-3 ladies’s league that can debut in January, the place salaries for the eight-week season are anticipated to be $250,000 and embrace fairness. The utmost wage for the WNBA this season is $241,984.
“With the ability to be in Miami from January to March, not having to go abroad,” Reese instructed reporters in August, explaining her choice. “No one needs to go abroad. A number of us by no means wish to should go abroad, however some folks do should go abroad sadly, so with the ability to make six figures inside three months, with the ability to be housed in Miami, simply with the ability to get higher. … I am excited for it.”
Many WNBA gamers journey overseas within the offseason to complement their salaries. Reese’s Sky teammate Kamilla Cardoso is enjoying with the Girls’s Chinese language Basketball Affiliation this offseason.
Followers can anticipate extra scrutiny to be paid to gamers’ cash this offseason.
The elevated consideration and file media rights deal signed this offseason for the WNBA has prompted gamers in management positions with the gamers’ union to rethink salaries. The gamers and league have till Nov. 1 to choose out of their present collective bargaining settlement and renegotiate phrases together with salaries.
“Individuals are lastly valuing us and seeing our price and what we have now to supply,” Breanna Stewart instructed ESPN this yr after listening to concerning the new media rights deal. “I am actually excited for the way in which that it will proceed to uplift this league in a lot of methods, for one, salaries.”
Stewart is a vp within the WNBA gamers’ affiliation.
