In a twist that’s got the basketball world laughing and shaking its heads, Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky’s breakout rookie, has turned her push for a bigger paycheck into a viral punchline. On her podcast Unapologetically Angel, the 22-year-old dropped a bombshell, threatening to boycott the WNBA if her salary demands aren’t met—a gutsy move that might’ve worked if she hadn’t followed it up with a performance so bad it’s being called the “greatest hits of missed layups.” Just days after declaring “Pay me more or I’m out,” Reese stepped onto the court in the Unrivaled League and delivered a bricklaying spectacle—going 5-for-13, including a shot that smacked the bottom of the backboard like it was auditioning for a blooper reel. The timing couldn’t be worse for her case, and fans are eating it up for all the wrong reasons.
Reese’s podcast rant wasn’t subtle. Sitting with teammate DiJonai Carrington, she argued that her WNBA rookie salary of $73,000—a standard four-year, $325,000 deal—doesn’t even cover her $8,000 monthly rent. “If they don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out,” she warned, doubling down on social media with a defiant “That’s the truth.” It’s a bold flex for a player who once admitted she didn’t even know her own salary. But instead of backing up her superstar swagger, her next game against Aaliyah Boston’s squad was a disaster—wide-open layups clanking off the rim, leaving fans wondering if she’s aiming for a construction gig instead of the hoop. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s golden girl, is out there sinking shots, selling out arenas, and raking in record TV ratings—quietly proving what real star power looks like.
The internet didn’t let this slide. Clips of Reese’s misses have gone viral, with fans dubbing her the “Bricklaying Queen” and sarcastically pleading, “Pay her the max!” Her 39% field goal percentage and knack for turning easy shots into comedy gold have shredded her leverage. Compare that to Clark, who’s driving WNBA attendance and jersey sales through the roof. Reese’s claim that she’s a major draw doesn’t hold water—Unrivaled League viewership has tanked below 100,000, outshone by a random UCLA-Nebraska college game. The numbers scream one truth: Clark, not Reese, is the engine behind women’s basketball’s boom, while Reese’s games struggle to fill seats.
What’s wilder? Reese’s complaint that future rookies like JuJu Watkins might out-earn her under a new CBA shows she doesn’t get how contracts work—her deal’s locked in, and that’s standard across sports. With the WNBA still losing $40 million last season, her boycott threat feels more like a bluff the league can shrug off. As one analyst quipped, “I’d miss Clark and the Fever, but not much else.” Reese’s hype might shine on TikTok, but on the court, she’s a far cry from the “best player in the world” she aspires to be. Until she stops punishing backboards and starts cashing in buckets, her demands are just noise—and the WNBA’s real stars will keep stealing the show.
