TO BE FAIR, THE WNBA IS A PART-TIME JOB.

All the same, personal bankruptcies and financial troubles among former collegiate athletes and retired professional athletes are more common than I, drawing on my experience with personal finance in the common schools, would like.  And yet, Angel Reese's money troubles strike me as a quintessential first world problem.

Amid unprecedented ratings, interest and attendance, one of the WNBA's most marketable stars says the money she makes as a player doesn't come close to covering her expenses.

"I just hope y'all know," Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese said Wednesday on Instagram Live, "the WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills. Literally."

Reese disclosed a monthly rental payment of $8,000 per month, or $96,000 per year, dwarfing the $73,439 she made this season as a rookie with the Sky.

No doubt, Dementia Joe would see another opportunity to grouse about inequity, that is, once his handlers told him where to put the apostrophes.  But college sports now includes value propositions that were once unavailable.

Reese is an enviable position relative to many of her WNBA peers; On3 gave her a $1.8 million name, image and likeness valuation her senior year at LSU, putting her among the top 10 highest-earning women athletes. Reese told ESPN in May that she was making more money as an endorser and influencer in the pros.

"That check that I do get here is a bonus," Reese said at the start of the season. "Being able to play for what, four to five months, and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I'm doing, I think it's a plus for me."

Reese has deals with endorsers, including Reebok, Good American, Tampax, beauty brand Mielle, Beats by Dr. Dre and Hershey's Reese's Pieces candy. She sells Angel Reese-branded merchandise on her website and started a podcast in September called "Unapologetically Angel," drawing attention with guests Sheryl Swoopes and Dwyane Wade.

In addition, there is a new 3-on-3 women's basketball league playing during the traditional basketball season.  If that league gets rid of the baggy half-calf shorts that have been plaguing basketball since Michigan's Fab Five made them a fashion statement, all the better.

Shaquille O'Neal is facing criticism after making comments about an outfit that WNBA star Angel Reese recently wore.

In the Oct. 24 episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, the 52-year-old retired athlete, who has previously discussed his close bond with Reese, 22, discussed imagining the Chicago Sky forward dunking a basketball in a pair of “little shorts."

While discussing how lowered rims could impact the WNBA, O’Neal said, "Imagine you in the same little shorts you had on at the Wild 'N Out show dunking," referring to the shorts Reese wore while making a cameo at the Wild 'N Out Live Tour’s Chicago stop earlier this month.

"You know how many T-shirts you’re gonna sell?” he asked before adding, “You’re tripping.” In response, Reese appeared to roll her eyes, laugh uncomfortably and say, "Oh my god.”

Two generations of Louisiana State graduates having some fun.  Let the kids play.  Those little shorts are probably a big part of beach volleyball's value proposition.