Welcome to the newest bad-faith argument in women’s basketball: That college players are taking a pay cut when they go to the WNBA.
It’s everywhere, from misinformed tweets and tweeters (and yes, the trolls) to PR firms trying to boost an article or NIL valuation tool. Regardless, it’s an argument that easily gains steam. For some, it’s the shiny headline that wraps in hot-button topics like pay equity and NIL and for others, it’s the obvious jab of “Look, women’s pro sports are struggling and this proves it!”
It’s become so ingrained as truth that even some top college players are convinced of it.
“I’m in no rush to go to the league,” LSU forward Angel Reese said on the “I Am Athlete” podcast last month. “The money I’m making is more than some of the people that are in the league that might be top players.”
Here’s the deal: I don’t know exactly how much Reese makes. According to reports, she has 17 NIL deals, and given how much her social media following grew after the national title run, that number is sure to increase (if it hasn’t already). But there’s no transparency in terms of reporting these deals, so I can’t state a number. But I do believe Reese could very well be making more in NIL deals than some of the top WNBA…
