Ex-Cowboys WR explains why he wants LSU’s Angel Reese to stay in college after Elite Eight loss to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa

Angel Reese and the Louisiana State University Tigers will not have the chance to defend their championship title as they were defeated by Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament.

The All-American forward, nicknamed “Bayou Barbie,”will face a difficult decision after completing her fourth year in Baton Rouge. She will have the option to either declare for the WNBA Draft or play her last season at LSU.

If Angel Reese is struggling to make a decision, Dez Bryant, a former All-Pro wide receiver, has a recommendation. In response to a post by Women’s Hoops Network, the former Dallas Cowboys player tweeted:

“They should stay and enjoy college. I think the world enjoy watching college girls hoops more than the WNBA. Respectfully”

Bryant’s point is valid, as last year’s LSU-Iowa national championship game was shown to have an average viewership of 9.9 million and a peak viewership of 12.6, according to ESPN.

The average for women’s basketball title games ranks third-highest, with the 1986 game between Texas and USC and the 1983 game between USC and Louisiana Tech taking the top two spots.

The 2024 second-round faceoff between Iowa and West Virginia, which aired on ESPN, attracted 4.9 million viewers, solidifying its position as the most-watched women’s basketball game after the Final Four and championship games.

Comparing Angel Reese’s NIL earnings to Top WNBA Salaries

The significant amount of attention that women’s college basketball is receiving has caught the eye of brands looking to promote their products to a broad audience. This is the reason why well-known players such as Angel Reese are able to earn substantial amounts of money through name, image, and likeness deals.

Reese ranks among the highest NIL earners, earning $1.8 million from endorsement deals with major companies such as Amazon, Bose, Discord, TurboTax, and Outback Steakhouse. This places her in the eighth spot on the On3 NIL 100 list based on estimated earnings.

Despite being the top WNBA salaries in terms of total value and annual average, the amount mentioned still pales in comparison to the highest paid players in the league. According to Spotrac, Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard holds the title for the most lucrative contract among active players, with a four-year deal worth $898,700.

Following her are Alyssa Thomas, with a four-year contract worth $836,000, and Arike Ogunbowale, who has signed a three-year deal worth $725,952. Rounding out the top five are Marina Mabrey, with a three-year contract worth $620,000, and Kelsey Mitchell, who has also signed a three-year deal worth $618,000.

Despite being top players of the defending WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are not receiving significant financial compensation. Their contracts are for two years and worth a total of $400,000.

Despite having more than double the highest WNBA salary as her NIL money, Angel Reese will carefully consider her options before making a decision.