In a showdown of real estate wisdom vs. rookie frustration, former Shark Tank shark Barbara Corcoran has officially told WNBA star Angel Reese to take her complaints about her $8,000-a-month Chicago apartment rent…elsewhere. Yep, the $100 million-dollar business mogul believes Reese should channel that frustration into something more substantial, like, say, a mortgage.
Reese, fresh off her Louisiana roots and onto Chicago’s courts as the seventh overall pick in the draft, recently stirred up a fan frenzy by stating that her WNBA salary—$73,439—barely covers her luxury apartment. Fans were quick to point out she’s hardly scraping by, thanks to a whopping $1.7 million from her brand partnerships with giants like PlayStation, McDonald’s, Amazon, and Reebok. But Reese insists that when it comes to rent, it’s a different ballgame.
Corcoran wasn’t impressed. “$8,000 a month in Chicago? She’s lucky she gets a kitchen for it,” she quipped, with a classic New York shrug that could send even the boldest rookies back to the gym. And, like a true shark sensing opportunity, she advised Reese to consider a more practical move—getting herself into real estate and buying property instead of signing away cash to a landlord. The underlying message? Stop throwing cash at temporary solutions when you could be building equity.
“But What About New York?”
If Reese thinks Chicago’s tough, Corcoran suggests she’d have fainted over the New York City market. “Here, she’d pay $12,000 for the same apartment,” Corcoran noted, hinting that, compared to the Big Apple, the Windy City’s a budget find. Chicago’s high-rises may be taxing, but they’re also manageable… at least if you’re a basketball star.
A Rookie’s Empire
But Angel Reese is more than just her rent. Off the court, she’s been flexing her influence beyond the WNBA. From gaming with PlayStation to flipping burgers with McDonald’s, Reese has curated an impressive portfolio of deals that include Amazon and Reebok. She’s also made a name for herself with her own podcast, Unapologetically Angel, which has snagged some A-list guests, like rapper GloRilla. With a cool 12 million Spotify listeners, Reese’s off-court influence is soaring. Not to mention, she’s expecting her first child, which has the public keeping an eye on her every move.
Reebok Bounces In
Reese’s thriving endorsement game just got even sweeter with Reebok, where she’s reportedly about to sign an extension that would land her something every athlete dreams of: a signature shoe. Only the second WNBA player after Rebecca Lobo to earn this honor, Reese’s shoe line is set to debut in 2026. “We’ve already kicked off the design process,” Reese shared, adding that Reebok’s commitment “means the world” to her.
In the ever-dramatic, high-stakes world of professional sports, it’s clear Angel Reese is living her best life—though maybe it’s time she considers taking Corcoran’s advice. After all, when a real estate mogul worth $100 million tells you to buy property, you might want to listen.
For now, Reese can keep counting her endorsements, signature shoes, and maybe even a kitchen in Chicago—because according to Corcoran, at least she’s not in New York.