Angel Reese, the 21-year-old sensation in women’s basketball, has officially stepped into the professional arena as a WNBA star. Selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese is set to make her debut with the Chicago Sky.
Reese, affectionately known as the “Bayou Barbie,” won’t be the only national champion heading to Chicago. She will be joined by Kamilla Cardoso, the third overall pick who played a pivotal role in South Carolina’s victory in the 2024 NCAA March Madness women’s tournament. With Reese and the LSU Tigers claiming the title in 2023, the Windy City now boasts two national champions on its roster.
Reese’s accolades extend beyond the court. She clinched the ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete in 2023 and shattered multiple records in a single season. This remarkable recognition has attracted substantial Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, propelling her to eighth place for the highest NIL earnings earlier this year, according to On3. As she transitions into the WNBA, these NIL deals evolve into lucrative sponsorships.
As Angel Reese embarks on her WNBA journey, speculation abounds about her potential earnings.
Here’s a detailed look at her burgeoning net worth and what lies ahead for the young star.
Net Worth 2024
As of 2024, Angel Reese’s net worth stands at an impressive $1.8 million, as per On3.
This figure reflects her significant earnings from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which have now transitioned into professional sponsorships with her entry into the WNBA.
What Is Her Salary?
Her starting salary in the WNBA is approximately $73,000. She has inked a four-year, $324,383 contract with the Chicago Sky, according to Spotrac. In her first year, Reese will earn $73,439, with her salary increasing each season to reach $93,636 by the fourth year, provided Sky exercises her fourth-year option.
This is slightly below the earnings of Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever, who will top out at $97,582 in her fourth year.
Reese also has the potential to earn additional incentives, such as a $5,150 bonus for winning WNBA Rookie of the Year and an extra $2,575 for being selected for the All-Star game.
Comparatively, these figures are modest next to NBA salaries. Bilal Coulibaly, last year’s seventh overall NBA draft pick, secured a $30 million contract with the Washington Wizards, as reported by Spotrac on social network X.
The maximum WNBA salary caps at around $240,000, which is still below the earnings of the lowest-paid NBA player. Consequently, many WNBA players augment their income by playing overseas during the off-season.
Nevertheless, Reese’s WNBA salary complements her substantial existing income from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, now classified as sponsorships.
She Is Also a Philanthropist
NIL Succes
Angel Reese’s rise in the world of sports extends beyond her on-court achievements to a remarkable array of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) sponsorships. These endorsements catapulted her to eighth place in NIL earnings among all college athletes earlier this year.
Reese’s impressive roster of sponsors includes household names such as PlayStation, Raising Cane’s, McDonald’s, Coach, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse, and Amazon. Her NIL deals for 2022 and 2023 were valued at around $1.7 million, according to USA Today.
Some of the notable brands she partnered with include:
- Sports Illustrated
- Calvin Klein
- Outback Steakhouse
- Reebok
- ZOA Energy
- Amazon
- Starry
- PlayStation
- Mielle Organics
- JanSport
In October 2023, Reese announced a partnership with Reebok in a vibrant Instagram post. The video showcased her donning makeup and necklaces adorned with “Angel” and “Reebok.” The caption proudly declared, “Reebok x Angel Reese – We’re proud to announce a new partnership with college hoops star @angelreese10 🏀.”
Angel’s sponsorship momentum didn’t slow during the 2023-24 season. She recently signed a deal with Goldman Sachs to promote the One Million Black Women campaign, which advocates for Black women to policymakers in Washington, D.C. In a heartfelt ad featuring her mother, former basketball player Angel Webb Reese, Angel stated,:
“I owe so much to my mom. She instilled in me my confidence, work ethic, and my commitment to my community. It’s clear that from her generation to today, Black women are still facing challenges. But I believe change is possible. I’m proud to be teaming up with Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women to make sure the voices of Black women in my community and across the country are heard.”
Additionally, Reese secured contracts with several other prominent brands, including:
- Topps
- Beats by Dre
- Tampax
- Airbnb
In one Tampax ad, Angel appeared alongside her teammate Flau’jae Johnson. She also surprised the LSU women’s and men’s teams with personalized Beats by Dre headphones in their team colors, purple and yellow.
