Angel Reese Demands Bigger Paychecks, Threatens Strike—Even as WNBA Struggles Financially [WATCH]

As the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) prepares for its 29th season, tensions between players and the league continue to escalate over salary concerns.

A new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is on the horizon, and some players are already floating the idea of a potential strike if their demands are not met.

Angel Reese, a second-year player known for her outspoken nature on and off the court, recently suggested that WNBA players might consider a walkout if salary demands are not addressed in upcoming negotiations.

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During an episode of her podcast Unapologetically Angel, Reese spoke with WNBA Players Association representative Dijonai Carrington about the ongoing discussions regarding player pay.

“I gotta get in the meetings,” Reese said. “Because I’m hearing, if y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.”

Carrington responded, “That’s a possibility – for real.”

The current WNBA collective bargaining agreement was originally set to run through the 2027 season.

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However, in 2023, the WNBA Players Association opted out of the deal, making the 2025 season the last under the current terms.

This decision set the stage for negotiations between the players and the league regarding salaries and benefits.

One of Reese’s main concerns is the pay disparity between current rookies and future rookie classes.

If a new CBA results in higher salaries, players currently on rookie contracts—including Reese—could find themselves making less than incoming players under a renegotiated salary structure.

The debate over pay comes at a critical moment for the league, as the WNBA recently secured a multi-network television rights deal with ESPN, Amazon, and NBC Sports.

The agreement is expected to significantly increase the league’s annual revenue, which players argue should translate into higher salaries.

Despite recent surges in interest fueled by high-profile players like Reese and Caitlin Clark, the WNBA has yet to achieve profitability.

Since its establishment in 1996, the league has never recorded a profit and continues to rely on financial backing from the NBA.

Even in 2023, a year marked by heightened viewership and increased media attention, the WNBA reported a $50 million operating deficit.

While some players are considering a strike as a negotiation tactic, the reality of the league’s financial situation raises questions about whether such a move would carry any real leverage.

Unlike other professional sports leagues, the WNBA does not operate on independent financial success but rather on the NBA’s continued support.

If players were to sit out, the league could theoretically save money rather than suffer financial losses.

The upcoming CBA negotiations will determine whether the league’s new TV deal is enough to shift the financial landscape and provide players with higher salaries.

If the additional revenue stream proves lucrative, it could mark the first time in WNBA history that the league operates at a profit.

For now, players like Reese continue to push for better pay, while league officials prepare for what could be a pivotal moment in the WNBA’s future.

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