"I'm making more money than some in the league" - Angel Reese clarifies her stance on joining WNBA
Angel Reese has rapidly grown into one of the most polarizing figures across the sport of basketball. The LSU star sparked controversy for her celebratory gesture towards Iowa's Caitlin Clark in the women's national championship game of the NCAA Tournament.
The first-team All-American has been in the spotlight since then, taking part in a number of interviews and even linking up to dance with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
Angel Reese and Ja Morant linked up 🤣🔥
(via @Reese10Angel) https://t.co/wZIxeCvBVL
There has been plenty of conversation regarding the future of Angel Reese, who is set to return to LSU next season. The 6-foot-3 forward spent her first two seasons at Maryland before transferring to LSU, where she played a key part in their national title run. Reese has two years of eligibility remaining and has made it clear that she is in no rush to make the WNBA leap.
Angel Reese on her WNBA future 👀
“I'm in no rush, I'm making more money than some in the league.”
(h/t @On3sports) https://t.co/q9dNWp92KF
Is Angel Reese making more money than WNBA players?
The growth in exposure has also aided Angel Reese's ability to cash out on NIL deals. According to On3's NIL valuation, Reese saw her value leap from $485,000 to $876,000. This launches her to the No. 3 spot in On3's women's basketball NIL rankings.
Forbes also reported that Angel Reese holds the most NIL deals across men's and women's basketball. This includes brands such as Wingstop, McDonald's, Raising Cane's, Amazon, Bose, Xfinity, Outback Steakhouse and more. The ability to make money through NIL deals has made college more appealing to top athletes and led to them staying in school for much longer.
For what it is worth, Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young is the WNBA's highest-paid player, making an annual salary of $252,450. The average salary of a WNBA player, as of February, is $102,751.
It should also be noted that Reese is ineligible to join the WNBA this season because of her age. The league requires players to be at least 22 years old and having completed their college eligibility. Reese is still just 20 and will have a chance to continue building her collegiate legacy next season.
When the time comes, she will surely be a top WNBA draft pick. Reese is set to be a part of the stacked 2024 class, which should include Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink.
The NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player will have a difficult time improving off the 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game she averaged this year, but Reese has been proving people wrong every step of the way thus far in her career.