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When the Indiana Fever go on the clock with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, it won’t take them long to announce that Iowa Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark will be the new face of their franchise.
Clark declared for the draft last month amid a heated debate about whether or not that was the financially prudent decision.
Who the Los Angeles Sparks select with pick No. 2, however, is more up in the air. The Sparks could well use the pick on LSU Tigers star Angel Reese.
But the senior forward, who has spent the better part of the last year positioned as a rival to Clark, says she hasn’t yet to determined whether or not she’ll declare for the draft. One thing she is sure of, however, is that the endorsement deals won’t run dry once she leaves college.
"Regardless, I'm going to be able to make money."
Angel Reese says her brand deals will follow her to the WNBA if she decides to go pro at the end of the season 🗣️ @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/QlrDAeyxTy
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 21, 2024
Angel Reese Says Brand Deals Will Follow Her To WNBA
“For me, I’ve honestly learned that, regardless, I’m going to be able to make money staying or going,” Reese said. “Understanding that my brand has been built where I know that more than being in college is something that I can do.
“…I have a brand outside of here where the deals are going to follow me if I leave or stay. And I’ve built that relationship with a lot of these Brands. I don’t just have brands that are in college. I have brands that are long-term deals that are just past college.”
She then went on to mention shoe deals that both she and teammate Hailey Van Lith signed.
“Like my Reebok deal and I’m sure Hailey’s Adidas deal, that’s going to go on past college.”
Despite criticism of her decision, Clark picked up a major new sponsor just weeks after announcing. Both she and Reese are two of the biggest names in women’s basketball today.
And it appears that will be the case regardless of whether or not they remain in college.