Angel Reese’s arrival in the WNBA as the No. 7 overall pick for the Chicago Sky has come with a great deal of fanfare. Starting with her sensational collegiate career with the LSU Tigers, Reese’s fame has skyrocketed to new heights since the beginning of her professional career.

This fame comes with some overwhelming positives like endorsements, celebrity connections and fortune. But, it also comes with plenty of negatives.

Reese admits that she’s had a difficult time dealing with the overwhelming attention — both positive and negative — being thrown her way.

Reese discussed the “dark side” of WNBA fame during the most recent episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel.

“I’d rather be rich than famous,” Reese said. “… Everybody wants to be famous, but they don’t really know what comes with it. It’s fun, all the connections you make and stuff. But sometimes you just want to live a normal life. Just being able to walk down the street casually and not have to take pictures and sign autographs. Sometimes I just want to live a normal, 22-year-old life.”

Reese put together a stellar rookie campaign with the Sky in 2024, averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the All-Star forward’s season was cut short when she suffered a wrist injury in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5)

Reese’s Sky will face off against the Minnesota Lynx in a regular-season matchup on Friday night.