“Angel Reese Sparks Controversy: Is a $74K WNBA Salary Enough to Justify $8K Rent?”
“She probably picked one of the most expensive places in the whole city; she clearly is not that financially smart,” a third added.
Someone else wrote, “Yeah, but those endorsements do, and then some. Am I supposed to feel bad?”
“She is not complaining; she’s trying to flex, and it’s going over everybody’s head, lol,” suggested a separate user.
Her complaints sparked criticism online, with thousands of netizens arguing she should adjust her lifestyle to match her income, while others mentioned her brand deals
Angel Reese claims her WNBA salary doesn’t even pay her rent, which is roughly $8k a month, and that she gets most of her money from engagement she gets from people hating on her.
“Hatin pays them bills baby… The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all” pic.twitter.com/KZehPsWOjC
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) October 16, 2024
As of October 2024, the average rent in Chicago is $1,847 per month. This is 19% higher than the national average rent price of $1,557 per month, making Chicago one of the most expensive cities in the US, as per Apartments.com.
The WNBA announced that this season was their most watched and attended in two decades, with a 170% increase in viewership on ESPN-platformed games compared to 2023.
Moreover, the league set records for digital consumption and merchandise sales in 2024—which were up a combined 601% from last season—and more than quadrupled its social media engagement.
“This is really the first draft class that has gotten this kind of attention that would give the union some bargaining leverage,” said sports law expert Gary Roberts. “And it’s all about leverage.”
