Cameron Brink, a WNBA star, reveals that she saves 90% of her income: "I aim to achieve financial freedom."

Unlike some athletes who spend their first big paycheck on a splurge, WNBA star Cameron Brink hasn't touched hers.

The Los Angeles Sparks will pay the second-overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, who earned $76,535 in her rookie season, $78,066 next year.

Brinks claims that she has saved approximately 90% of her earnings from her first year in the league, stating that the WNBA is not the primary source of her income. The forward asserts that her career as a professional athlete has enhanced her marketability, enabling her to secure lucrative endorsement deals.

"The 22-year-old shared with CNBC Make It that they are deeply considering their financial future and are determined to establish a comfortable lifestyle for themselves in the future, as they do not wish to continue working indefinitely."

At Stanford University, Brink, the first female basketball player to sign an endorsement deal with New Balance in college, had an NIL valuation of over $200,000, according to Sports Illustrated.

In a league where player salaries are still low, sponsorships can significantly impact an athlete's earnings.

In contrast to the NBA's salary leader, Steph Curry, who made $51.9 million from the Golden State Warriors last year and is set to earn $55.7 million this season, he also has endorsement deals with brands like Under Armour and Chase.

Despite Brink's rookie season being cut short due to a torn ACL in June, she has still managed to secure a multi-year deal with Urban Decay and will be featured in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

She has collaborated with SoFi to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibited financial institutions from denying loans or other products to customers based on their gender, marital status, race, or other identifier in 1974.

Brink is concentrating on controlling her spending and saving as much as possible while recovering from her injury.

In September, Brink got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ben Felter, and set funds aside for her upcoming wedding and honeymoon.

Despite the recent surge in interest in the WNBA, players' earnings have not yet fully benefited from this increase in popularity.

Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky's All-Star rookie, stated that her $73,439 salary is insufficient to assist her in meeting her financial needs.

"During a recent Instagram live, the 22-year-old stated that the WNBA does not pay her bills at all, as she believes it only covers one of her expenses."

In May, Reese revealed to ESPN that her main source of income was through her various endorsement deals, stating that her WNBA earnings were merely a supplement.

"I believe it's advantageous for me to play for four to five months and receive $75,000 in addition to my other endorsements," she stated at the time.

Brink considers her job in the WNBA to be the greatest ever, regardless of her salary.

"Brink says, "I am fortunate to make a living doing what I love, which involves working out, playing basketball daily, and receiving compensation for it. However, I wish people recognized the immense amount of work that goes unseen behind the scenes. It takes a significant amount of physical and mental effort to be in peak shape and prepared for each season. While I wouldn't trade it for anything, it takes a considerable amount of effort to achieve this level of excellence.""

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