Beyond the Rebounds: How Angel Reese is Changing the Business of Women's Basketball in 2025

When Angel Reese steps onto the court for the Chicago Sky, fans can easily see her commanding presence, impressive rebounding skills, and fierce competitive spirit. What many don't see is the business revolution she's quietly leading off the court—one that's reshaping the economic landscape of women's basketball and creating new pathways for professional female athletes to thrive financially.

As the WNBA kicks off its 29th season in 2025, Reese has emerged as not just a basketball sensation but as the prototype for the modern female athlete-entrepreneur. Her approach to building her personal brand while advocating for change in women's sports offers valuable lessons about the evolving business of basketball, especially for NCAA alumni transitioning to professional careers.

The Social Media Phenomenon Behind the Numbers

With over 4.9 million Instagram followers, Angel Reese stands as the most followed player in the WNBA—surpassing even the league's official account, which has 3.2 million followers. This massive digital audience gives Reese extraordinary leverage in business negotiations and unprecedented influence over conversations about women's basketball.

"The social media following helps players earn most of their living through brand deals and partnerships. The more followers a player has, the more money she'll make," notes sports journalist Shams Charania, who has covered Reese's business ventures extensively.

Reese's social media prowess isn't accidental. She understood early that building a personal brand alongside her basketball career would create financial opportunities. While still in college at LSU, Reese accumulated 17 NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, more than any other college basketball player at the time, male or female. Her success serves as a powerful case study on any NCAA dashboard tracking athlete marketability and career development. That foundation has only expanded since she entered the WNBA.

The Salary Reality and the Side Hustle Solution

Reese made headlines in October 2024 when she candidly discussed WNBA economics during an Instagram Live session. "The WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills," Reese stated, revealing that her $73,439 rookie salary wouldn't even cover her $8,000 monthly rent.

This transparency about WNBA compensation has sparked important conversations about player salaries, particularly as the league and players' association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. While the league's revenue has grown substantially, with a $2.2 billion media rights deal signed in 2024, WNBA salaries remain a fraction of what male counterparts earn in the NBA.

Rather than simply lamenting this disparity, Reese has masterfully built alternative revenue streams. Her endorsement portfolio now exceeds 20 deals with brands including Reebok, Good American, Tampax, Mielle, Beats by Dr. Dre, Amazon, PlayStation, Bose, and even Hershey's Reese's Pieces candy. Industry experts estimate her endorsement income exceeds $2 million annually—dwarfing her WNBA salary.

Reese's most significant partnership is with Reebok, where she made history in October 2024 by signing a multi-year contract extension that includes a signature shoe set to release in 2026. This achievement makes her just the sixth active WNBA player with a signature shoe deal, joining Breanna Stewart (Puma), Sabrina Ionescu (Nike), A'ja Wilson (Nike), Sydney Colson (Creative Control), and Caitlin Clark (Nike).

The Business Innovator and Opportunity Creator

Reese's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond traditional endorsements. In 2024, she joined the Unrivaled basketball league, a 3-on-3 competition co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. The league provides additional income opportunities for WNBA players during the traditional offseason. Reese and her Rose BC team captured the inaugural championship in March 2025.

She's also expanded into media production with her podcast "Unapologetically Angel," which creates another platform for both income and influence. These ventures represent Reese's understanding that modern athletes must be diversified business entities, not just players confined to their league's salary structure.

"I want people to know the deals don't just stop in college," Reese explained in a 2024 SportsCenter interview. "When you go to the pros, they continue, and I feel like they've grown even more."

This diversification strategy has allowed Reese to achieve financial milestones typically impossible on a WNBA salary alone. In February 2025, she celebrated paying off her mother's mortgage in full—a powerful statement about financial independence and generational wealth-building.

The Advocate for Equality and Attention

Beyond her personal business success, Reese consistently uses her platform to advocate for broader change in women's basketball. She regularly calls for more equitable media coverage of the WNBA, challenging networks and publications to feature more teams and players beyond the most popular stars.

Her outspoken nature sometimes generates controversy, but it invariably keeps important conversations about equity in women's sports at the forefront of public discourse. When critics attempted to twist her words regarding WNBA salaries in March 2025, Reese quickly corrected the record and redirected attention to the legitimate concerns about player compensation.

"You're seeing the power shift to the players," noted Napheesa Collier, discussing how athletes like Reese are changing the dynamics of CBA negotiations. The outspoken advocacy of high-profile players has created unprecedented leverage for all WNBA athletes as they negotiate for improved working conditions, higher salaries, and better benefits.

The On-Court Excellence That Powers It All

What makes Reese's business success particularly noteworthy is that it stems from genuine basketball excellence. In her rookie season, she averaged 13.6 points and a WNBA-record 13.1 rebounds per game, compiling a rookie-record 26 double-doubles. She became the first player in league history to record 20+ rebounds in three consecutive games and set a WNBA record with 28 straight games grabbing double-digit rebounds.

These statistical achievements create the authentic foundation upon which her business empire is built. While Reese received a Rookie of the Year vote in 2024 (ultimately finishing second to Caitlin Clark), her impact on the Sky extends far beyond individual accolades.

Entering her second season in 2025, Reese has embraced a leadership role with Chicago under new head coach Tony Brown. "Now there's a standard coming in every day and just bringing energy and working hard every drill, every rep, going hard every day. That's the expectation," Reese explained about the team's evolving culture.

The Future Business Model for WNBA Stars

The blueprint Angel Reese has established provides a potential path forward for women's basketball players. By leveraging social media, building authentic connections with fans, diversifying income streams, and maintaining excellence on the court, athletes can create financial opportunities that transcend the limitations of league salary structures.

As the WNBA continues its growth trajectory—with expanded media coverage, new franchises like the Golden State Valkyries, and rising attendance figures—players like Reese are ensuring that the athletes driving this growth receive their fair share of the economic benefits.

What makes Reese particularly influential is her willingness to challenge existing power structures while simultaneously building her own economic ecosystem. Rather than waiting for the league to solve compensation issues, she's creating the template for player empowerment and financial independence.

The Lasting Impact

The business revolution Angel Reese is leading extends far beyond her individual success. Young players entering the WNBA can now envision a career where basketball serves as the foundation for a diverse business portfolio rather than the sole source of income.

Brands increasingly recognize the unique value proposition WNBA players offer—authentic connections with engaged audiences, powerful storytelling opportunities, and the chance to be associated with the growing momentum of women's sports.

As the 2025 WNBA season unfolds, Reese's impact will be measured not just in rebounds and points, but in how she continues to reshape the business landscape of women's basketball. Her fearless approach to building her brand while advocating for systemic change represents the future of athlete entrepreneurship—one where the power increasingly shifts toward the players who make the game great.

For a 22-year-old in just her second professional season, Angel Reese has already accomplished what many athletes never achieve in their entire careers: creating a personal brand and business operation that will thrive regardless of on-court circumstances. In doing so, she's changing the game for everyone who follows in her footsteps.