Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entered the WNBA at the same time in 2024. Since their arrival, both have dominated the women’s basketball scene, although Clark has clearly taken the leading role over Reese.
Her charisma and talent on the court have turned her into the league’s main commercial face, as well as a powerful draw for fans.
In just two years, she managed to transform a major issue that had long affected the WNBA. Now, fans attend arenas in large numbers, often filling them, just to watch her play. Television ratings have also surged significantly.
Because of that impact, in part, the league was able to secure a historic agreement in the renegotiation of its collective bargaining agreement. The momentum Clark has generated across the entire landscape of women’s basketball has been immeasurable.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, a rivalry rooted in college basketball
Now that Caitlin plays for the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese represents the Chicago Sky, they continue a fierce rivalry that began during their college careers.
Only now, they enjoy even greater exposure, including internationally, where their matchups attract considerable attention. Another layer has now been added to that rivalry, partly related to what happens on the court and partly beyond it.
I know I’ll go down in history. I’ll look back in 20 years and be like: ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball isn’t just because of one person. It’s because of me, too.
And I want you to realize that.
Angel Reese stated in 2025.
Angel Reese is not entirely satisfied ahead of the 2026 season
With the collective bargaining issue now resolved and the schedule confirmed, preseason in April and the 2026 season tipping off on May 8, Reese has something to say about a particular issue.
The earnings of each player are far from comparable, despite both being among the biggest stars who have elevated the WNBA to its current level.
Over their first two seasons in the league, both earned nearly identical salaries.
- Clark: $78,066 in 2024
- Reese: $73,439 in 2024
For the following year, Reese saw a slight increase:
However, heading into the 2026 season, the situation has changed dramatically, as Clark is set to receive nearly double her previous annual income.
This will be Caitlin’s new salary. This is due to her All-WNBA selection, and by 2027, she will be eligible for a maximum contract that could reach $1.3 million. Meanwhile, Reese’s situation will look like this:
From an average of $70,000 to $349,571, potentially rising to $400,000 by 2027.
Last year, you made a powerful statement saying the reason people are watching women’s basketball is not just because of one player, but because of you too.”…”A year later, do you feel like you’re …
A reporter asked Angel, to which she simply requested to move on to the next question.
The only certainty is that the salary gap between the two has widened significantly, and for Reese to close it, she may need to deliver even more on the court to prove she is also one of the league’s biggest stars.