“As long as it takes.” Angel Reese fires back at critics after hinting she might sit out the WNBA over a $75K-a-year contract. The rising star refuses to back down, making it clear she knows her worth—and won’t settle for less.

In the world of professional sports, where salaries often soar into the millions and endorsement deals can make or break a career, Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky’s rising star, has ignited a firestorm. The 22-year-old WNBA rookie, known for her tenacity on the court and unapologetic personality off it, recently hinted at a bold stance: she might sit out games if the league doesn’t meet players’ demands for better pay. With her current rookie contract set at just under $75,000 for 2025—a figure that barely scratches the surface of her monthly expenses—Reese is refusing to stay silent. Her message? She knows her worth, and she’s ready to fight “as long as it takes” to get what she and her fellow players deserve.

Reese’s comments came during a candid episode of her podcast, *Unapologetically Angel*, where she discussed the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations with fellow WNBA player Dijonai Carrington. “If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out,” she declared, a statement that sent shockwaves through the basketball world. For a league that’s riding a wave of unprecedented popularity—thanks in part to stars like Reese and Caitlin Clark—the idea of a player-led strike is both a threat and a wake-up call. The current CBA, which runs through October 31, 2025, is up for renegotiation, and with the WNBA’s recent $2.2 billion media rights deal on the table, players see a golden opportunity to demand their fair share.

Critics wasted no time pouncing on Reese’s remarks. Some labeled her ungrateful, pointing to her four-year, $324,383 rookie contract as a solid starting point for a first-year player. Others mocked the idea of a strike, arguing that the WNBA, which has never turned a profit in its nearly three-decade history, can’t afford to pay its stars NBA-level salaries. “Walk out… nobody will notice,” one X user quipped, echoing a sentiment shared by those who see the league as a niche product propped up by the NBA’s financial backing. But Reese isn’t fazed. She clapped back on social media, accusing detractors of “selective hearing” and doubling down on her position: “I said what I said. And I’ll say it again.”

At the heart of Reese’s defiance is a stark reality: her WNBA salary doesn’t come close to covering her bills. Last year, she revealed on Instagram Live that her $8,000 monthly rent—$96,000 annually—dwarfs her $73,439 rookie earnings. “I’m living beyond my means,” she joked, but the humor masked a deeper frustration. While endorsement deals with brands like Reebok, Reese’s, and Beats by Dre have padded her income, Reese argues that relying on off-court hustles shouldn’t be the norm for professional athletes. “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” she said. “I don’t even think it pays one of my bills.” Her transparency has peeled back the curtain on a league where even its brightest stars often need second gigs—whether it’s overseas play or, in Reese’s case, a lucrative stint in the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled league—to make ends meet.

Reese’s critics might argue she’s overreaching, but her stance resonates with a growing chorus of players who see the WNBA’s boom as a chance to rewrite the narrative. The 2024 season shattered viewership records, with rookies like Reese and Clark driving a surge in attendance and sponsor value. Yet, the pay gap between the WNBA and NBA remains glaring. NBA benchwarmers can earn millions while WNBA All-Stars scrape by on five-figure salaries. “We deserve more,” Reese insisted on her podcast, a sentiment echoed by Carrington, who called a strike “a possibility, for real.” With the players’ union opting out of the current CBA in October 2024, the stage is set for a showdown that could reshape the league’s future.

What makes Reese’s defiance so compelling is her refusal to back down. She’s not just a rookie cashing checks—she’s a cultural force. From her NCAA championship run at LSU to her record-breaking 13.1 rebounds per game in her WNBA debut season, Reese has proven she’s a game-changer. Her marketability, bolstered by a $1.8 million NIL valuation in college, has only grown in the pros. Yet, she’s acutely aware that the next generation of rookies might out-earn her under a new CBA, a prospect she called “hurtful” but motivating. “When it’s my time, I need to be getting paid,” she said.

As the WNBA heads into 2025, all eyes are on Reese and her peers. Will they sit out? Will the league bend? One thing is clear: Angel Reese isn’t settling for less. “As long as it takes,” she’s signaling a fight not just for herself, but for every player who’s been undervalued. Love her or hate her, she’s forcing the conversation—and she’s not blinking first.