In a jaw-dropping twist that’s set the basketball world ablaze, Chicago Sky sensation Angel Reese has issued a stunning ultimatum to the WNBA: pay her what she’s worth, or she’s walking away from the game for good! The rookie phenom, known for her fierce play and unapologetic attitude, dropped this bombshell during a heated moment that’s left fans, analysts, and league officials reeling. Could this be the end of one of the WNBA’s brightest stars, or is it a power move to shake up the status quo?
Angel Reese threatens to boycott WNBA games and demands more cash as she fumes over her $75k-a-year rookie contract
Reese, who took the league by storm in her debut season, isn’t mincing words. Sources close to the star claim she’s fed up with her modest $74,909 salary for 2025—peanuts compared to the millions she’s raking in from endorsements with brands like Reebok and Hershey’s. “I’m not here to play for pocket change,” she reportedly fumed in a candid outburst. “If the WNBA doesn’t step up, I’ll retire and live off my real earnings—watch me!” The 22-year-old’s threat isn’t just talk; it’s a grenade lobbed straight at the league’s ongoing salary debates.
The timing couldn’t be more explosive. With the WNBA Players’ Association opting out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement last October, negotiations for a new deal—set to kick in for 2026—are heating up. Reese, a key figure in the league’s surging popularity alongside Caitlin Clark, seems ready to flex her influence. Her rookie year stats—13.6 points and a league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game—prove she’s no benchwarmer. Yet, her paycheck barely covers her $8,000 monthly rent, a fact she’s aired out before. “The WNBA doesn’t even touch my bills,” she once snapped on Instagram Live, and now she’s doubling down with this retirement shockwave.
Social media erupted faster than a fast break. Fans are split—some hail her as a trailblazer demanding fair pay, while others slam her as entitled, pointing to the league’s financial struggles. “She’s making millions off endorsements—why threaten to quit?” one X user raged. Another fired back, “She’s exposing the WNBA’s joke of a pay scale—good for her!” Meanwhile, her podcast Unapologetically Angel became a lightning rod when she hinted at sitting out games earlier this month, but this retirement threat takes the stakes to a whole new level.
The WNBA, riding high on a $2.2 billion media deal, can’t ignore this. Reese’s exit would be a gut punch to a league banking on her star power. Will they cave to her demands, or call her bluff? Insiders whisper that teammates like Dijonai Carrington back her push, hinting at a brewing player revolt. For now, all eyes are on Reese—will she lace up for 2025, or hang up her sneakers in a blaze of glory? One thing’s clear: she’s not playing quiet anymore.
