WNBA SHOCKER: Angel Reese Pushes Back at Critics, Hints She Might Sit Out Over $75,000 Salary Snub!
The WNBA is riding high on record-breaking viewership and ticket sales, but storm clouds are gathering over the league’s future as one of its brightest stars, Angel Reese, publicly questions whether she—and others—will continue playing under current conditions.
Angel Reese Speaks Out
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, a rookie sensation and social media powerhouse, recently addressed her concerns about player compensation and working conditions on her podcast, *Unapologetically Angel*. Reese’s $75,000 annual salary has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about fair pay for WNBA athletes, especially as the league celebrates unprecedented growth.
“I need to be in the [players’ union] meetings because I’m hearing that if [the league] don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out,” Reese said, hinting at the possibility of a player strike if negotiations stall.
Her guest, Dallas Wings star Dijonai Carrington, echoed Reese’s concerns, calling a player strike “a possibility.”
Labor Dispute Looms After CBA Opt-Out
The tension follows the WNBA Players Association’s decision in October 2024 to opt out of its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league. This move set the stage for potentially contentious negotiations, with the threat of a lockout or strike hanging in the air.
The current CBA will remain in effect for the 2025 season, which starts on May 16, but both sides face a ticking clock to reach a new agreement before the old terms expire.
Players Demand Fair Share of Growing Revenue
The stakes are higher than ever. The 2024 season saw 2,353,735 fans attend games—the highest total in 22 years—and an average of 657,000 viewers per televised game, a 24-year high. Riding this wave of popularity, the WNBA secured a landmark 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBC Universal.
Despite this financial windfall, players like Reese and Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum argue that athletes aren’t receiving their fair share. Plum and others are pushing for a revenue-sharing model similar to the NBA’s, where players and owners split profits 50-50.
Key Issues: Salaries, Revenue Sharing, Benefits
The upcoming negotiations will focus on several major issues:
– Revenue Sharing: Players want a larger cut of the league’s growing income.
– Salaries: Calls for higher base pay and bonuses are intensifying.
– Pensions and Benefits: Athletes are fighting for better retirement plans, child care, and family planning support.
What’s Next?
The WNBA’s meteoric rise has put a spotlight on its players’ demands for equity and respect. With stars like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark drawing new fans and media attention, the league finds itself at a crossroads.
If the WNBA and its players cannot reach a new agreement, the threat of a strike or lockout could jeopardize the momentum built over the past year. As negotiations heat up, all eyes will be on the league to see if it can deliver on its promises—and keep its stars on the court.
The 2025 WNBA season will play out under the old CBA, but the clock is ticking. For Angel Reese and her fellow athletes, the fight for fair compensation and benefits is just beginning, and the outcome could reshape the future of women’s basketball.
