Angel Reese, Who ‘Couldn’t Afford’ $8K Rent, Buys Chicago Property Before Retiring Her Teary Mother

“Humble beginnings. I used to be broke clocking in for work then going to practice,” Angel Reese once revealed. She used to work at Smashburger but those days came to an end during the NIL era. It gave her the opportunity to leverage her brand and she reached a valuation of $1.8 million. Next, the WNBA happened. She started her rookie season with a salary of $73,439 but it seems it simply wasn’t enough for her.

In October 2024, she took to social media and announced, “I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills, literally. I don’t even know my salary. I’m living beyond my means. My rent is more than that, it’s $8,000.” That means her WNBA salary can’t pay her rent for the entire year. But brand deals have helped her pad her salary and let us not forget that she is also a part of ‘Unrivaled’. With all that extra money, the athlete decided to do something good for her mother and herself.

On a new episode of Unapologetically Angel, Reese dropped some big news. It was her mother’s birthday at the time they were filming the episode and so, Reese got her mother a cake and a gift that made her tear up. “So your mortgage today has been paid. […] You ain’t got to worry about your mortgage no more and if you still want and keep yourself busy, you can keep yourself busy but … your mortgage is paid.”

Mama Reese couldn’t believe what she heard. “Are you serious?” she asked. Yes, Angel Reese was completely serious but this isn’t where the surprise stopped. The athlete further revealed:

“When I move to Chicago this year actually I’m getting a house y’all and you [Mama Reese] can come stay with me whenever your want to.”

Her mom, Angel Webb Reese, couldn’t help but get emotional upon hearing this. Retiring her mom when Angel Reese is just 22 years old is huge. Perhaps the best present Webb Reese ever received.

Interesting Fact: Ever wondered why Angel Reese used to wear a no. 10 jersey? Well, it was a tribute to her mom who wore the same number when she played. Reese wanted to be able to look at her mother and say, ‘Mom, you showed me. You paved the way for me.’

It is important to understand that WNBA players don’t make millions like NBA players. However, Reese has been capitalizing on opportunities that come her way. Think about ‘Unrivaled’ and also her endorsement deals with Reebok and McDonald’s.

via Imago

While WNBA salaries still have a long way to go, Reese has smartly leveraged her brand. However, this isn’t the first time Angel Reese has paid her mother back.

Angel Reese will never forget to thank her mom…

Her first real thank you came when she entered college. With a full-ride scholarship, she was able to take a huge weight off her mom’s shoulders. “That was my payback to her,” Angel said.

After years of watching her mother, Angel Webb Reese, work tirelessly to support her and her brother, Julian “Juju” Reese, she knew she had to give back. It wasn’t just about money—it was about honoring the sacrifices her mom made every single day.

“My mom worked hard [when I was] growing up, raising us by herself,” Angel told ‘Women’s Health’ in 2024. She saw the long hours, the struggles, and the moments when her mom put them first no matter what. And that kind of dedication? It left a mark.

Angel has never shied away from crediting her mother for shaping her into the person and player she is today. “She never backed down to anything,” she told ‘First Take’ in 2023. “She always stood her ground for everything. She worked super hard for me and my brother to get in this position.”

For Angel Reese, success isn’t just about making it to the top. It’s about bringing her family up with her.