Angel Reese’s alleged weekly earnings of around $1,400 from her WNBA salary may seem modest at first, particularly considering the significant public attention she attracts—but in truth, it represents only a small portion of her overall income. In 2024, Reese inked a four-year rookie deal with the Chicago Sky valued at $324,383, providing a base salary of $73,439 in her first WNBA season, increasing to approximately $74,909 in 2025.
Splitting the 2025 salary across a 52-week year results in about $1,440 weekly; however, since the WNBA season lasts only 4-5 months, the in-season pay per week would be greater—but the key point is that her yearly base WNBA salary translates to approximately $1.4 K weekly when distributed throughout the year. Nevertheless, that income alone didn’t suffice to pay for even her rent: Reese humorously remarked that her $8,000 monthly housing expense ($96,000 annually) surpasses her total WNBA salary. As Reese mentioned in an Instagram Live: “the WNBA doesn’t cover my expenses at all… I don’t believe it even pays one of my bills… I’m living above my means,” clearly employing humor to highlight the disparity. However, this basic salary amount fails to capture the complete scenario: Reese has developed a formidable off-court influence via profitable Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and sponsorship agreements.
Brand collaborations feature significant companies such as Reebok (which enlisted her in 2023 as its inaugural women’s basketball NIL athlete), Hershey’s Reese’s Pieces (featuring an apparel line), Beats by Dre, Amazon, Bose, TurboTax, Coach, Discord, Sonic, Wingstop, Airbnb, and Xfinity. By September 2024, her projected NIL earnings hit $1.8 million, positioning her among the top-earning women’s college athletes turning professional so far. Moreover, Reese participates in the new Unrivaled women’s 3‑on‑3 league during the WNBA off‑season, which allegedly provides season earnings of approximately $250,000 along with equity and media visibility.
For instance, during the first Unrivaled championship season (early 2025), Reese received the Defensive Player of the Year award, contributed to Rose BC’s title victory, and allegedly secured a substantial bonus—around $50,000—further eclipsing her WNBA salary. Now acknowledged as a prominent figure in social media and business, Reese has debuted a podcast, Unapologetically Angel, creates exclusive merchandise with Reebok (“Angel Reese 1” shoe line expected in 2026), and grabbed attention by purchasing her first house at 22—only months after settling her mother’s mortgage.
Even though there is a significant difference between her base salary and her living expenses, Riley’s total annual earnings—derived from endorsements, the Unrivaled salary, podcast income, and business projects—places her well above what that $1,400-per-week WNBA salary suggests. Nevertheless, her direct public statements emphasize ongoing discussions concerning WNBA player compensation, and she has backed demands for increased salaries during new collective bargaining talks, alongside the league’s growing media contracts and popularity. In summary, although Angel Reese’s estimated weekly salary of $1,400 in the WNBA might appear surprisingly low for a top athlete, it’s crucial to understand the context: a league with restricted salaries where endorsements, participation in side leagues, and business savvy provide significantly higher financial rewards for a new era of women’s basketball legends.
