WNBA star Angel Reese knows all about cashing large checks, but handling substantial sums of money was initially a challenge for the basketball star. During a new interview, Reese, who’s gearing up for her third season with the Chicago Sky, got candid about the important lessons she’s learned about having money since becoming a bona fide superstar and also revealed how she feels about being famous.
Angel Reese Gets Candid About The Challenges She Had To Overcome After Becoming Rich And Famous
MEGA
While speaking with Vogue Australia, Reese touched on a range of topics, from her Reebok collection to the importance of financial literacy.
For those who may be unfamiliar, Reese is from Baltimore, Maryland, and according to her, she’s the first person in her family to be blessed with “financial freedom.”
The freedom she’s experiencing these days is largely due to her lucrative NIL deals with major companies, including Reeses, StockX, Cash App, and Victoria’s Secret.
And while the money is an added bonus, Reese said learning to manage it all was quite difficult at first.
“I got money so fast I didn’t know what to do with it,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh sh-t, I’m a millionaire at 20?’ They do not teach you how to file taxes at school.”
Reese continued, “My grandmother would tell me to save money for a rainy day, but really, I’m the first in my family to have this kind of financial freedom.”
Between Being Rich And Famous … Angel Reese Says There’s Only One She Really Wants
Instagram | Angel Reese
The money for Reese started pouring in after she won a national championship with LSU in 2023. Her title win also brought a new level of exposure she wasn’t used to.
“Everybody knew what car I was driving, and people were following me home. I was like, ‘I have to move and I have to get a new car,’” she said.
Things got so bad that Reese couldn’t even attend classes in person. “I couldn’t just walk to class—everything was online,” she said.
Reese explained that life in the public eye can “get overwhelming,” adding that she’s unable to do everyday activities.
“I haven’t been to the grocery store without security in probably three years. I don’t go out to the club by myself like I used to. People always say they want to be famous, but I’d rather be rich than famous. But I think I have accepted the life I am in. I’m really grateful. My mantra right now is to enjoy my free will. You only get this once,” she said.
Angel Reese Earned Nearly $10 Million In 2025
USA Basketball
Reese’s revelation about money comes just months after the Netflix actress was named the highest-paid Black woman in basketball in 2025.
According to a previous report from The Blast, Reese earned $9.4 million. Some of her WNBA peers, including Caitlin Clark, Paige Beuckers, and Sabrina Ionescu, were also listed.
Out of Reese’s whopping $9.4 million in earnings, only $0.4 came from her work on the basketball court, which is likely why she previously referred to her W paycheck as a “bonus.”
“The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think it pays one of my bills,” she said. “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.”
Reese Makes History As First Athlete To Grace The Vogue Cover In Her Own Shoe
Reebok
Also, during her interview with Vogue, Reese opened up about her relationship with Reebok and her signature sneaker, the “Angel Reese 1.”
“So I had a conversation with Reebok when I signed about having a signature shoe, and I wanted to have creative control,” Reese said. “I am obviously into basketball, but I’m also into fashion, so I wanted something versatile that you can wear on and off the court.”
Reese’s cover is also a historic moment, as she becomes the first female athlete to grace the cover wearing her own shoe.
“Never been done—Vogue Australia in my own signature @reebok,” Reese said in a statement sent to The Blast. “I came to stand behind Australian women’s basketball and continue growing this game globally. This is what it looks like when purpose meets the moment.”
Reese Is Getting The Attention Of Many
Reebok
Reese is continuing to ride the high of being one of the most visible professional athletes in the world.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “I see celebrities courtside at the game, and everywhere I go people are screaming my name, screaming other players’ names. It’s not just in the States, either. There are fanbases everywhere. It’s the result of work women have put in over the years.”
Reese went on to call the massive shift “long overdue,” adding, “I want to say thank you to all of the women before me for everything they’ve done for the game and all sports, from top to bottom. And shout out to y’all, for the love and support. We really, really appreciate it.”