Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is making her stance clear amid ongoing WNBA contract negotiations, suggesting that she and other players could go on strike if the league fails to meet their demands.
Reese, who has informally requested to join the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), voiced her concerns during her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast.
Speaking with fellow WNBA player DiJonai Carrington, Reese stated:
“I need to be in the meetings because I’m hearing that if (the league) don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out.”
Carrington, a former WNBPA team representative, confirmed that a strike is a real possibility.
The WNBPA previously opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), causing the deal to expire at the end of the 2025 season instead of 2027.
With WNBA revenue and viewership surging, the union is demanding a greater share of profits, improved salaries, and better working conditions.
WNBA Salary Disputes & Revenue Growth
Reese has openly criticized the low salaries in the WNBA, with her four-year rookie contract worth $324,383—earning her just $74,909 next season.
The WNBA recently secured a $2.2 billion media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon, increasing exposure for the league.
Despite this growth, only 9.3% of the league’s $200 million in revenue last season went toward player salaries. In contrast, NBA players receive 50% of league revenue.
WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson has emphasized that the league must “fully professionalize” by securing proper wages, improved working conditions, and meaningful benefits for players.
Expansion and Alternative Leagues
The WNBA is expanding with new teams in Golden State, Toronto, and Portland, but current players worry that future rookies will benefit from an updated CBA while veterans remain locked into outdated contracts.
Many players supplement their income by competing overseas or joining Unrivaled, a new nine-week league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Reese has signed with Unrivaled, where the average salary is $250,000—significantly higher than the WNBA’s $119,590 average salary.
On Instagram Live last year, Reese stated:
“The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think it pays one of my bills. Literally.”
With contract talks intensifying, the possibility of a player strike looms large as Reese and the WNBPA push for a more equitable deal.
