Vineet Nandwana is an NBA editor at EssentiallySports. With over half a decade of experience as a writer and editor in a multitude of fields including film production and sports journalism, Vineet brings his diverse experience to the ES editorial desk. As he follows the best editorial practices, Vineet makes sure to produce top-notch content that resonates with the American audience and gives them the forefront view of the nooks and crannies of their favorite athletes.

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Discover the highest-paid WNBA players of 2024! From Diana Taurasi’s legendary earnings to Jackie Young’s league-leading salary, we break down the top five earners and explore the pay gap in women’s sports. Don’t miss this in-depth look at how WNBA stars are shaping the game and their future. Watch now and join the conversation about the rising influence of women’s basketball!

5 WNBA Players Who Made the Most Money in 2024: Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson Didn’t Make the Cut!

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 No doubt, ever since the 2024 rookie class entered the league, the WNBA has seen a tremendous surge in its growth trajectory. However, a significant part of this growth has been fueled by the ongoing debate between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Even months after the conclusion of the regular season, they continue to make headlines off the court. But this time, fans have a unique demand—one influenced by Angel Reese. A couple of months ago, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese became the first female basketball player to land a McDonald’s meal deal. This achievement placed her in an elite group of sports and pop culture icons, including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Travis Scott. Then came the “Angel Reese Special”—a bold BBQ (Bacon Quarter Pounder) with cheese, fries, and a drink—officially launched on February 10th. As if that wasn’t enough, Reese’s partnership with McDonald’s resulted in a high-profile Super Bowl commercial. The ad was star-studded, featuring the 22-year-old Maryland native alongside WNBA legends Lisa Leslie and Breanna Stewart, as well as rapper Latto. The minute-long commercial perfectly embodied the swagger and confidence Reese has become known for. Angel Reese [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/USATSI_23283220.jpg]https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/USATSI_23283220.jpgMay 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) warms up before the game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports But not everyone was cheering. As soon as the ad dropped, fans rushed to the comment section to share their opinions. Days have passed, yet many still demand a response—not from Reese, but from her longtime rival, Caitlin Clark. FANS PUSH FOR A CAITLIN CLARK MCDONALD’S MEAL AMID ONGOING RIVALRY DEBATE AGAINST ANGEL REESE. While Reese’s partnership is a milestone for female athletes [https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/mcdonalds-teams-up-with-basketballchampion-angel-reese-for-first-ever-female-athlete-meal.html], Fever fans are questioning why the 2024 Nike Athlete of the Year—the most talked-about rookie in WNBA history—has yet to receive a similar deal from major brands like McDonald’s. “Angel Reese got a burger meal, but I want the Caitlin Clark taco, and now I’m the weirdo,” wrote one fan. This discussion gained even more momentum when Reese’s ad coincided with Caitlin Clark’s Nike commercial. Clark, in collaboration with Nike, also made her Super Bowl advertisement debut as part of the brand’s latest “Just Win” campaign. This was Nike’s first Super Bowl ad since 1998 and a monumental moment for the Iowa native. “There’s one guarantee in sports: You’ll be told you can’t do it. So do it anyway. You can’t win. So win,” the ad proclaimed. While it was a proud moment for women’s sports, as many female athletes were featured in major commercials, fans took it differently. Instead of celebrating both achievements, some added more fuel to the rivalry between Reese and Clark. “Does the Angel Reese McDonald’s meal come with a side of Caitlin Clark jealousy, or is that extra?“ one user commented. For some, Reese’s McDonald’s advertisement was perceived as a response to Clark’s rising influence. “Angel Reese really got a McDonald’s ad for being a terrible sport vs. Caitlin Clark. The United States is a wild place,” another user wrote. Of course, this isn’t the first time fans have drawn comparisons between the two WNBA stars. Their rivalry dates back to their collegiate careers, with tensions escalating after Reese and LSU defeated Clark and Iowa in the 2023 NCAA championship game. One fan even flipped the script, writing: “Caitlin Clark was part of Nike’s first Super Bowl ad. Also, Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. If anyone is jealous, it’s still Angel Reese.” The debate only intensified during the Rookie of the Year race. While both Clark and Reese have repeatedly stated that individual awards don’t define them, fans continue to pit them against each other. However, Reese has faced a harsher side of this rivalry, receiving racial comments and even death threats. The criticism grew so intense that she ended up deleting her Instagram account. Now, this latest demand for a Caitlin Clark McDonald’s meal is just another chapter in the ongoing debate—this time with the $218 billion fast-food giant at the center. What do you think? Will McDonald’s answer fans’ calls and release a Caitlin Clark meal? 

Fans are now demanding a Caitlin Clark McDonald's meal after Angel Reese's landmark partnership sparked debates on their ongoing rivalry.

Yashika Dutta is a Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympics. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she specializes in the high-stakes energy of college basketball, with features on the Big Ten Conference and the chaos of March Madness that bring fans right to the hardwood. 

Her coverage has even caught the attention of UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk, earning her recognition for both accuracy and insight. A former state-level basketball player, Yashika channels her on-court experience into reporting that captures the game’s intensity beyond the box score. With a player’s sense of timing and a journalist’s instinct for storytelling, she shines a light on rising stars like Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, while unpacking the pressures and triumphs that shape college hoops.  

Whether charting a Big Ten rivalry or chronicling the ethos of March Madness, Yashika connects fans to the heart of the game with energy and authenticity.

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Angel Reese Ignites Urgent Plea From Caitlin Clark Fans as $218B Giant Dragged
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Angel Reese Ignites Urgent Plea From Caitlin Clark Fans as $218B Giant Dragged in Heated Debate

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Angel Reese Ignites Urgent Plea From Caitlin Clark Fans as $218B Giant Dragged in Heated Debate - EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports is the home for the underserved fan, delivering storytelling that goes beyond the headlines. As a media platform, we combine deep audience insights with cultural trends, to meet fandom where it lives and where it goes next. Founded in 2014, EssentiallySports now engages with an audience of over 30m+ American sports fan on its website and 1m+ readers on its newsletters daily.

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Yashika Dutta is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports who actively covers NCAA Division 1 basketball. With more than two years of content creation experience, she showcased her journalistic skills by covering the 2023 Big Ten Volleyball Championships and the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Womenâ€™s Volleyball Championships before shifting to the thrilling world of the NBA. As a former state-level basketball player, Yashika brings her dynamic energy to the NBA team. Basketball isn't just a subject of her journalistic endeavors; it's a passion deeply ingrained in her past. From Caitlin Clark to JuJu Watkins, she covers the budding superstars in college basketball, keeping a keen eye on their futures.