Angel Reese is making waves in the basketball world even before going pro. It’s not surprising that she dominates the news with her tremendous talent given her extraordinary ascent to fame. Her skills on the court are so exceptional that she’s been making a substantial income, rivaling many WNBA veterans. Angel Reese’s net worth as of 2023 stands at an astounding $3 million.

So how is a 21 YO Angel Reese, who plays at the collegiate level, earning more than WNBA players like A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu, among others?

How is Angel Reese so rich?

Angel Reese first tied up her basketball sneakers at St. Francis Academy in the energetic city of Baltimore, where her quest for financial stardom began. She first displayed her talents there, laying the groundwork for an outstanding high school career. She led her team to numerous championships while averaging 18 points and 20 rebounds every game.

After graduating from high school, Angel made the crucial choice to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She enrolled at the University of Maryland (UMBC), where she continued to excel on the court. She led UMBC to the Sweet 16 of the March Madness tournament in 2022, wrapping up her journey there. Reese also earned the distinction of being ranked the #2 overall player in her high school class of 2020. However, it was her decision to play for the LSU Tigers that really put her on the road to financial success.

Angel Reese’s lucrative brand associations in the NIL sector and her successful collegiate basketball career are mostly responsible for her impressive net worth. College athletes like Reese have profited from their athletic abilities. As a result of agreements that she signed with well-known brands like Amazon, Outback Steakhouse, Sports Illustrated and Calvin Klein, Angel’s NIL valuation shot up to an astonishing $1.4 million.

In April, 9.9 million people watched LSU basketball win the national championship. This greatly boosted her market value, and Reese’s financial ascension reached a tipping point. Thanks to her substantial endorsement contracts, she is currently one of the highest-paid student-athletes. According to Sponsor United, Angel has signed an astounding 17 NIL sponsorship agreements. These deals could bring in almost $1.3 million yearly.

Beyond basketball, Angel Reese is pursuing a modeling career and appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue of 2023. “Everybody knows the WNBA doesn’t make that much money. So, I just want to be able to grow my brand as much as I can in college before I go to the WNBA,” Reese told SI.

“I’ve done so many photo shoots. I’ve done so many commercials. Being able to pitch those things with the team I have now is going to help me when I graduate and decide to go to the WNBA.” Heading into the WNBA next year, Reese would earn a salary of no more than $75,000 under the WNBA’s rookie pay scale.

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In fact, how much does an average WNBA player earn?

How much is a WNBA player’s salary?

In recent years, WNBA earnings have advanced significantly in the realm of professional women’s basketball. The average pay for a WNBA player as of 2023 is $147,745, and it has been rising over time. This is due to the influence of a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) that went into effect in January 2020 and gave players better terms.

The maximum pay a WNBA player can make in a single season has increased to $234,936 as a result of this agreement. This marks a significant increase in comparison to prior years. For instance, the maximum salary a player could earn in 2021 was $190,550. It significantly jumped up to $228,094 in 2022. Additionally, the collective bargaining agreement provides for a 3% annual compensation rise for both max and supermax players.

As of September 2023, A’ja Wilson earns a salary of $200,000 according to Sportsnaut. Sabrina Ionescu, on the other hand, following her contract with the New York Liberty, will earn an annual average salary of $205,030. This is way less than what Angel Reese earns, playing for the LSU.

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Although WNBA salaries have increased over recent years, they still fall well short of those earned by their NBA counterparts. As per Boardroom, a WNBA team’s total salary cap is $1,420,500. This is split among its roster of 11 or 12 players. In sharp contrast, the average NBA player receives a salary of $9.5 million. According to the NBA, each NBA team has a $136.021 million salary cap. This stark disparity highlights the constant challenges in attaining wage equity in professional basketball and the larger sports sector.

Future prospects are, however, hopeful. There is hope that the financial situation of the WNBA will continue to improve as a result of the upcoming talented generation from female basketball players committed to bringing about positive change, both on and off the court. The road to greater pay parity in professional basketball leads closer and closer as these athletes continue to perform well on the floor and fight for just opportunities.