Angel Reese’s Shocking Move About Caitlin Clark Earning $100,000 an Hour for Speaking Engagements, More Than Most WNBA Players Make in an Entire Season, Is a Shocking New Chapter in Their Rivalry, Exposing the Massive Pay Gap and Fierce Competition for Attention
In the glittering yet gritty world of women’s basketball, where dreams are dunked and rivalries ignite like wildfire, the saga of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has evolved from college court clashes to a multimillion-dollar media frenzy. Just weeks into the 2025 WNBA offseason, Reese, the Chicago Sky forward known for her unapologetic flair and rebounding prowess, dropped a bombshell that has fans, analysts, and league executives buzzing. In a candid Instagram Live session on October 12, Reese reacted to reports that her longtime rival, Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark, commands $100,000 per hour for speaking engagements—a fee that dwarfs the annual salaries of most WNBA players. “Sis, if you’re pulling that kind of bag off the court, what’s left for the rest of us?” Reese quipped, her laughter masking a sharper edge of frustration. The comment, laced with playful shade but rooted in raw inequality, has reignited debates over the league’s pay disparities and the cutthroat battle for the spotlight in a sport still clawing for its financial due.
The numbers tell a stark story. Clark, the Iowa phenom who shattered records en route to her 2024 Rookie of the Year honors, has parlayed her on-court wizardry into off-court gold. According to industry insiders cited in a recent Shadow League report, Clark’s speaking gigs—often motivational talks at corporate events or university commencements—fetch up to $100,000 for a single hour-long appearance. That’s not a typo: $100,000 an hour, equivalent to the base salary for a fourth-year WNBA player like Reese, whose 2025 contract sits at around $74,900—a figure she earns over a grueling 40-game season plus playoffs, if her team qualifies. For context, the league’s average salary hovers near $120,000, but that’s skewed by a handful of veterans; rookies and mid-tier stars often scrape by on less than $60,000 before taxes and agent fees. Reese’s jab wasn’t just banter; it was a spotlight on the chasm between WNBA on-court earnings and the endorsement empires built by its biggest names. Clark, with her Nike deal reportedly topping $28 million over eight years, has become the face of a new era, where marketability trumps mere stats.
Their rivalry, born in the 2023 NCAA championship where LSU’s Reese taunted Clark’s Iowa after a buzzer-beating victory, has always simmered with a mix of admiration and antagonism. Off the court, it’s morphed into something fiercer: a proxy war for attention in a league hungry for visibility. Reese, a Baltimore native with a social media following north of 3 million, has carved her niche as the bold, glamorous disruptor—think red-carpet struts at the Met Gala and partnerships with brands like Barbie. But Clark’s appeal is broader, more universal: the sharpshooting savant from Iowa who draws 2.5 million viewers per game, boosting WNBA attendance by 48% in her debut season. Reese’s “shocking move”—that viral Live where she mock-applied for Clark’s “speaking agent” while scrolling mock résumés—garnered over 5 million views in 24 hours, spawning memes, think pieces, and even a satirical SNL skit. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) erupted, with one post reading, “Angel calling out the queen’s crown—love the fire, but CC’s just built different.”
Yet beneath the laughs lies a deeper ache. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, renewed in 2020, guarantees players 50% of league revenue—a progressive step, but one that pales against the NBA’s model. NBA stars like Devin Booker pocket $880,000 per game; WNBA counterparts like Clark earn about $7,500 per outing before bonuses. Reese’s comment echoes broader calls for reform. In September, Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. waded in, tweeting that stars like Reese and Clark “deserve NBA-level bags” if they keep elevating the product. Porter’s words stung, highlighting how the women’s game, buoyed by Clark’s Fever leading the league in merchandise sales (up 300% year-over-year), still funnels most profits to owners and broadcasters. Reese, who averaged 13.6 rebounds per game in 2025 despite a midseason ankle tweak, has been vocal about this. “We’re out here building empires, but the foundation’s cracked,” she told ESPN in a July profile, alluding to her own modest salary amid skyrocketing endorsement deals with Reebok and Wingstop.
Clark, ever the diplomat, sidestepped the drama during a Fever media day on October 15, saying, “Angel’s got that energy—we push each other, on and off the court. The league’s growing because of it.” But whispers in locker rooms suggest tension. Teammate Lexie Hull, in a Sports Illustrated interview just days ago, revealed the unseen side: “Fans see rivalry, but it’s respect wrapped in competition. Caitlin’s fees? That’s her hustle; Angel’s just reminding everyone we’re all grinding.” Hull’s take humanizes the duo, two 23-year-olds navigating fame’s double-edged sword. Reese’s move, far from petty, spotlights how Clark’s success—fueled by her 29.5 points-per-game average in 2025—ripples outward, pressuring peers to diversify income. Reports swirl that Reese is now fielding $50,000 offers for her own talks, a 150% jump from last year, proving the rivalry’s economic ripple effect.
As the 2026 season looms, this chapter underscores the WNBA’s inflection point. With viewership spiking 25% thanks to Clark-Reese matchups (their June 2025 clash drew 1.8 million viewers), the league eyes a media rights deal that could double revenues to $200 million annually. Players like A’ja Wilson advocate for revenue sharing that includes endorsement tiers, arguing that stars subsidizing the league’s growth deserves reciprocity. Reese’s quip, shocking in its candor, isn’t division—it’s a demand for equity. In a sport where attention is currency, Clark’s hourly windfall exposes not just one rivalry’s heat, but the systemic blaze demanding change. Will the WNBA fan the flames or douse them with fairer pay? For now, Reese and Clark keep scoring, on courts and in conversations, ensuring women’s basketball burns brighter than ever.
