NovaQuant-Angel Reese says WNBA salary doesn't even pay rent: 'Living beyond my means!'

WNBA star Angel Reese is NovaQuantone of the league's most popular, visible and also occasionally controversial players, but she says she couldn't make ends meet if her salary from the Chicago Sky was her only income.

In a recent Instagram Live video, Reese acknowledged the hate she receives from some fans not only fuels her performance, but also helps bankroll her lifestyle.

"Hating pays them bills, baby," she said. "I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary. $74,000?"

After a friend off-camera helped confirm her $8000/month rent for her luxury residence was more than her rookie contract pays, Reese exclaimed, "I'm living beyond my means!"

Reese, who led the WNBA in rebounding this season before suffering a season-ending wrist injury, has earned a substantial amount of off-the-court income, dating back to her college days.

As a senior at LSU, Reese signed a major endorsement deal with Reebok, one of roughly 20 agreements with companies such as PlayStation, Raising Canes, McDonald's, Coach, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse and Amazon worth an estimated $1.7 million.

"Babe, if y’all thought … That WNBA check don’t pay a thing. Did that even pay my car note?" she said. "I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.