Angel Reese Leads Charge for WNBA Pay Raise, Sparking League-Wide Debate

By Jocelyn Alano March 21, 2025 10:30

In a blockbuster move that shook the world of basketball, WNBA superstar Angel Reese is spearheading a charge for greater players' compensation threatening to boycott in case their terms are not met. Chicago Sky forward vocal assertions have stoked a heated struggle on pay parity for professional basketball women threatening to mount a face-off between the league officials and players.

2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Reese has been vocal about the financial realities of players in the league. "I hope y'all understand the WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills, literally," Reese mentioned in a recent social media post. The 22-year-old sensation's rookie contract is $73,439 annually, cash that barely enables her to afford the $8,000 a month rent on downtown Chicago.

The salary gap between NBA and WNBA players has been the subject of debate for decades, but Reese's high-profile advocacy has lent new energy to the topic. Her recent victory in the first-ever Unrivaled championship, worth a $50,000 bonus, also raised further questions about the gap in pay. "50K NEED DATTTTT," Reese tweeted following the victory, quipping that the bonus was "a little more than half of my contract."

Reese's initiative has gained traction among her peers. Nneka Ogwumike, a veteran player for the Seattle Storm, seconded Reese's position: "We're not just asking for a collective bargaining agreement that reflects our value; we're asking for it because we deserve it."

The timing of this push for higher pay couldn't be more perfect. The WNBA is riding a historic 2024 season, its highest TV viewership in 24 years and record-breaking attendance. Such heightened popularity has emboldened the players to demand a larger share of the pie.

League sources point out that the WNBA's claim of financial difficulties is wearing thin. With increased exposure and more support from fans, players believe that the time has come for their compensation to reflect their value to the sport.

But not everyone is impressed with Reese's approach. Critics aver that her demands are premature, given that she is a league newbie. Some fans and pundits observe that developing a sustainable economic model for the WNBA is a long-term proposition that requires sustained growth in viewership and sponsorships.

In the face of backlash, however, Reese is unfazed. Her reach is well beyond the basketball court, with high-paying endorsement contracts and a top podcast filling her pockets along the way. This fiscal sense has only served to underscore her demands for higher compensation in the league.

The WNBA Players Association is in negotiations with the league on a new collective bargaining agreement, and salaries is one of the chief areas under discussion. Reese's public campaign has definitely made the position of the players at the bargaining table more substantial.

And even while the arguments still rage, one thing is for sure: Angel Reese has sparked a firestorm of a discussion that the WNBA can no longer ignore. The fact that she is taking advantage of her star power on behalf of all players could be the start of something historic in league annals.

As a potential sit-out looms over the game, everybody holds their breath waiting to determine whether the WNBA will succumb to the players' demands or if this establishes a lengthy, drawn-out standoff. As the 2025 season awaits on the horizon, the world of basketball waits with bated breath to determine if Angel Reese's audacious wager will come to fruition – not just for her, but for all women who desire to earn a living playing pro ball.