WNBA two-time All-Star Angel Reese emphasized the importance of brand-building during the off-season following previous pay disputes, while remaining dedicated with the Chicago Sky
17:10 ET, 16 Dec 2025Updated 17:12 ET, 16 Dec 2025
Angel Reese sees an offseason opportunity to expand her brand building
During the last WNBA offseason, Angel Reese was in the gym working with Lisa Leslie and competing in Unrivaled, where she practiced shooting and refined her skill set at the professional level. The Chicago Sky forward has entered a new phase of her career where basketball excellence can now be mixed with important off-court brand building.
Reese has become a two-time WNBA All-Star and now treats the offseason as a business opportunity. She previously admitted to feeling “hurt” at the realization that incoming rookies will soon be paid more than her salary as CBA negotiations continue to stall between the WNBA and its players.
She was invited to the 2023 senior Team USA training camp, impressing coaches with her performances alongside top talent. The Sky forward connected with Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, recent WNBA Rookies of the Year, despite fan stories trying to create tension between the former college stars from Iowa and LSU.
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“Honestly, just continuing to build my brand off the court,” Reese said. “I think that’s the time I get to do a lot of that, between my podcast, fashion events, trying new things, acting, just doing different things that I don’t get to really do during the season cause I’m so focused.”
Reese has been at the forefront of advocacy for increased wages in the women’s game and even listed her personal non-negotiables. Her comments from October 2024 remain one of the clearest examples of the financial disconnect facing many players.
“Hating pays my bills, baby,” Reese said at the time.
Angel Reese plans to expand her business empire
“The WNBA doesn’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. I’m gonna do the math real quick. I don’t even know my [WNBA] salary.”
That salary is now well documented. Reese signed a four-year rookie contract worth $324,383 with the Sky, carrying an average annual salary of $81,096.
Her deal paid $73,439 in 2024, $74,909 in 2025, $82,399 in 2026, and $93,636 in 2027, with restricted free agency scheduled for 2028. Even at the top end, her on-court earnings remain a fraction of her overall market value.
Angel Reese made her Victoria’s Secret debut in October(Image: Prime Video)
Off the floor, Reese has built a portfolio that spans fashion, media, and business. She has her own Reebok shoe and apparel line, led by the AR1, which has been released in multiple successful colorways.
She became the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October and continues to expand her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast.
Reese and Bueckers are also teammates with Team USA while promoting Reese’s Oreo Cups. Their new public friendship has further fueled fan speculation about Reese potentially joining the Dallas Wings.
Angel Reese is one of few WNBA stars with a signature sneaker (Image: Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Sky star gained attention late in the season by posting herself boarding a private jet for a postseason trip hours after missing Chicago’s 91-86 season finale loss to New York Liberty due to a back injury.
Reese is expected to return in 2026 and resolve the frustrations from last year.