CHICAGO — You can forgive Angel Reese’s mother for nearly dropping her birthday cake when she heard the news.
The WNBA star surprised her mother, Angel Webb Reese, by revealing on her Unapologetically Angel podcast that she had paid off her mortgage.
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“You mentioned that once your mortgage was fully paid off, you would consider retiring, or you could choose to continue working if you wished. Well, today, your mortgage is completely paid,” Reese informed her mother. “If you’re looking to stay active, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself busy.”
The Chicago Sky forward later called the moment a “dream come true.”
Her mother, who sometimes goes by “Big Angel,” was in disbelief, asking “Are you serious?” before beginning to cry.
Reese had a fantastic debut season with the Sky, maintaining an impressive average of 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Despite her outstanding performance, she came in second in the WNBA Rookie of the Year voting, with Caitlin Clark taking the top spot.
At just 22 years old, Reese signed a lucrative four-year contract worth $324,383, as reported by Spotrac, after being chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In addition to her contract, she has secured sponsorships with major brands like McDonald’s, Reebok, and, interestingly enough, Reese’s.
The $73,439 she earned in her first year is about 2% of the median salary earned by her male counterparts in the NBA. Reese even revealed in October that her salary does not cover her rent.
“Big Angel” herself played college basketball for the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, and was later inducted into the UMBC Athletics Hall of Fame. She went on to play professionally in Luxembourg, according to ESPN.
In an interview with basketball writer Dorothy J. Gentry last year, the Sky forward said that her family was her inspiration.
“My mom is a single mom. Being able to raise two kids. I mean, I just graduated. My mom wouldn’t have been able to pay for college for me and my brother without me being able to get a athletic scholarship,” she said.
“I’m blessed. My mom don’t have no student loans. My brother graduates in December. So being able to walk away like that, I mean, that’s all I ever wanted in life.
“Me, my mom, and my brother, so that’s what it’s always been. That’s my motivation.”
