If you’ve been keeping up with the news in basketball lately, you’re likely familiar with WNBA player Angel Reese. The star Chicago Sky player recently made headlines for being the first ever woman in professional basketball to record a double-double in ten consecutive games during a single season. Despite her excellent performance on the court, Reese has been the subject of much ire. The backlash stems from Reese’s brave ability to speak out against the massive wage gap between WNBA players and their male counterparts.

According to Distractify, Angel Reese currently has a net worth of just under $2 million. While this is certainly an impressive figure, particularly for a woman of only 22 years of age, it pales in comparison to the finances of most male NBA players.

During a recent post-game interview, Reese spoke on her success in her chosen field. Per Sports Illustrated, she explained, “I’m a dog. You can’t teach that. I’m gonna go out and do whatever it takes to win every single night. My teammates rely on my energy. So being able to continue the energy even if we’re down, even if we’re up, that’s what I do.” So, now seems like as good a time as any to take a deep dive into Angel Reese’s financial figures, endorsement contracts, and other contributing factors to her net worth, and examine just how she beat the odds and created generational wealth through her skillful on-the-court performance.

Early Life & High School Record

Like many committed professionals, Angel Reese’s passion for her discipline was sparked at an early age. Reese was born to a humble Baltimore County family in 2002. Angel shares a first name with her mother, who played college basketball at the University of Maryland, and even had a stint as a professional player in Luxembourg. Her father was also quite passionate about the sport, having played all over the world in locales such as Luxembourg, Portugal, Cyprus, and Austria. As a young girl, Angel Reese engaged with a number of sports and athletics, including ballet, track & field, and swimming, though her parents obviously offered some early insight into their chosen professions.

By the time she reached high school, Reese was already a powerhouse on the court, due to her early training with her parents and her height, which eventually reached highs of 6 feet and 3 inches. While attending St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Angel was a four-year varsity player, performing alongside her fellow WNBA peer Nia Clouden. During that time, she gained numerous accolades, including most valuable player, High School Female Athlete of the Year, All-Metro Player of the Year, and champion of several Conference titles. Reese routinely averaged over 20 points per season throughout her entire high school run, making her one of the most prolific female scorers in the nation.

College Career

During her senior year of high school, Angel Reese was considered a five-star recruit.  NCAA accredited schools reached out, offering the court superstar multiple scholarships. Ultimately, she chose to kick off her college career by attending the University of Maryland, before eventually transferring to LSU. Reese began her college career as a power forward with the Maryland Terrapins.

Despite an injury in her right foot, Reese maintained a strong on-the-court record throughout all four university years. Before departing Maryland for LSU, Reese was named first-team All-Big Ten, receiving unanimous All-American honors. Thanks to this, Reese is one of the most highly-anticipated entrants into the WNBA.

Angel Reese’s string of excellence continued throughout her time at LSU. She broke multiple program records, including most consecutive double-doubles, with over 32 in her Junior year alone. The up-and-coming star took home first-team All-Southeastern Conference and All-Defensive honors following her performance in the 2023 NCAA tournament. She then helped LSU to win its first ever national championship game.

United States President Joe Biden personally congratulated Reese for her contributions to the championship win. Angel Reese’s college career rapidly became the stuff of legends. Further accolades include a Corbett Award and a Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY. She’s even the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year.

WNBA Stardom

Numerous outlets anticipated a first-round draft pick for Angel Reese in the 2024 WNBA draft. However, the Chicago Sky selected her seventh overall.

In an official statement from the team, general manager Jeff Pagliocca concluded, “We are absolutely thrilled we were able to get Angel at seventh overall. That was our hope. We have another incredibly competitive player in Chicago who fits our identity and culture of the city. She is a relentless rebounder, she is a national champion and an SEC Player of the Year, and we cannot wait to see her here in Chi Town.” After a rousing and incredibly promising pre-season, Reese made her professional debut in a May 15 game against the Dallas Wings.

Per a financial breakdown in Spotrac, Angel Reese has signed a four-year, $324,383 contract with Chicago. Her first season has her shattering WNBA records, leaving her with a projected salary of $73,439. Reese’s salary will increase annually to fulfill her contractual earnings, culminating in a 2027 payout of over $93,000. While these figures are undoubtedly impressive, the salaries of male players overshadow that pay range. Angel has made it clear, however, that she’s not in it for the money.

Per a write-up in Yahoo Entertainment, Reese recently explained “Obviously, people thought [that] me leaving college, I would take a huge pay gap, pay drop. I wasn’t getting paid in college, so that check that I do get here is a bonus… Being able to play for what four to five months and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I’m doing, I think it’s a plus for me. I play the game I love, not for the money; I play the game because I love basketball and genuinely love basketball.”

Endorsements & Likeness Valuation

Experts calculate that Angel Reese’s net worth is nearly $2 million. Her name, image, and likeness valuation (NIL for short) contribute to that figure. According to Bleacher Report, Reese closed out her college basketball career with the eighth-highest NIL value in the entire NCAA division. This feat allowed her an opportunity to make millions from licensing and brand partnerships alone.

The pro-baller has certainly capitalized on this opportunity. Reese has embarked upon deals with brands such as Beats by Dre, Tampax, Reebok, Amazon, PlayStation, Goldman Sachs, and many others. Her existing endorsement deals carry an estimated worth of $1.7 million so far, with no signs of slowing or stopping.

Angel Reese bolsters her net worth with a wide array of smart investments and philanthropic endeavors. In July 2023, she launched the Angel C. Reese Foundation, with the aim to support young women in the field of sports, as well as education and financial literacy. She has also been an outspoken advocate for women through her social media pages, which have amassed millions of followers. In May 2024, Reese expanded her investment portfolio by taking on an ownership stake in the USL Super League soccer team DC Power FC. While she has only played basketball in a professional capacity for a short time, it seems that Reese was primed for professional success from the very beginning.