Angel Reese, the powerhouse LSU basketball player, has recently made headlines again, this time for her outspoken remarks about the financial inequalities that exist in women’s basketball. In a bold statement, Reese declared that she “can’t live without” the $50,000 championship bonus she received for LSU’s historic NCAA victory, while also criticizing the WNBA’s salaries as “too low” for the level of talent and dedication displayed by female athletes.
The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament saw Reese lead LSU to their first-ever national championship, a milestone that made her one of the most celebrated athletes in the sport. Her dominant performances on the court and leadership throughout the tournament garnered widespread recognition, but Reese’s latest comments shed light on a deeper issue— the stark pay disparity between women’s and men’s professional sports.
Speaking to the media, Reese candidly expressed her frustration with the financial structures in place, both in collegiate basketball and the professional WNBA. “The $50,000 bonus I received for winning the national championship was a huge deal for me,” she said. “But it’s crazy to think that a bonus that large is one of the biggest rewards for a female athlete in basketball. When I look at the WNBA salaries, it feels like we’re being undervalued compared to the talent and hard work we put in. We deserve so much more.”
Reese’s comments are not the first instance of an athlete speaking out about the pay gap between male and female basketball players. While the NBA has long been a multi-billion-dollar industry with some of the highest salaries in sports, the WNBA players— despite their exceptional skill and contributions to the game— remain underpaid by comparison. The WNBA’s average salary hovers around $100,000, with the highest-paid players earning just over $200,000 per season. In contrast, NBA players regularly sign contracts worth tens of millions of dollars, underscoring the significant disparity in compensation.
The LSU star went on to criticize the financial situation for women’s basketball at both the collegiate and professional levels, explaining how the discrepancy in salaries and bonuses has a direct impact on women’s ability to sustain their careers. “It’s hard to make a living doing what we love when the pay is just not there. I can’t live off a WNBA salary for long. The reality is, women’s sports are not valued the way they should be, and that needs to change,” Reese asserted.
Reese’s comments have sparked a broader conversation about gender inequality in sports, particularly in basketball. Many have rallied around her statement, with fans and fellow athletes calling for more investment and support for women’s basketball. Social media platforms were quickly flooded with hashtags like #PayWomenAthletes and #EqualPayForWomen, showing widespread support for the idea that women athletes deserve more recognition, both financially and otherwise.
Reese’s remarks also underscore the financial realities faced by many women’s professional athletes, who often rely on endorsements and off-season work to supplement their salaries. While the $50,000 bonus Reese earned was a significant sum in the context of college basketball, it’s still far from what male athletes in comparable situations might receive. Her statement highlights the need for a shift in how society values women’s sports and their financial contributions.
In addition to calling out the WNBA’s pay structure, Reese also made it clear that she intends to use her platform to advocate for change. “I’m not afraid to speak up about this because it’s important,” she said. “I want future generations of women athletes to have better opportunities. We deserve to be compensated fairly for our work, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”
As Reese continues to establish herself as a dominant force in women’s basketball, her advocacy for equal pay is gaining attention and support from all corners of the sports world. Her willingness to speak out on this issue is part of a larger movement aimed at creating equality and fairness in women’s sports.
With the NBA and major sponsors increasingly backing women’s basketball, there is hope that Reese’s call for better compensation will be the catalyst for change. Whether or not this leads to immediate results, Reese’s words will undoubtedly inspire future discussions on how to close the pay gap in sports, ensuring that female athletes are treated with the same respect and financial rewards as their male counterparts.
