3 WNBA Players Who Have Mastered Social Media And What We Can Learn From Them
Originally published May 29, 2024
Social media plays a huge part in shaping an athlete’s public image and ability to connect with fans. In today’s digital age, athletes can show their personalities to fans with one click of a button. Using social media effectively can help an athlete get endorsements, gain a larger following and maintain a loyal fan base. In this blog post, I’ll explore how 3 WNBA players use Instagram to their advantage.
Angel Reese is the most followed WNBA player on Instagram with a whopping 3.2 million followers. When glancing over her account I immediately notice that all her posts are solo shots. The photos are either of her playing basketball for LSU or the Chicago Sky or pictures of her for brand deals.
Brand deals are a super important way for WNBA players to make money with their limited salaries. For reference, Reese will earn around $73,000 in her first year playing for the Chicago Sky, but in the 2022-2023 season alone she made about $1.7 million off brand deals and endorsements (Yahoo Sports).
The more brand deals she posts, the more her reputation as someone who brands should work with will grow, which in turn helps her make money. The way Reese uses Instagram for these deals should be the blueprint for all athletes trying to make extra money on the side.
Caitlin Clark’s Instagram has a following of 2.4 million but she takes a different approach to the social media app than Reese. Clark’s Instagram focuses almost solely on her life as an athlete. She will occasionally give followers a glimpse into her personal life, but it’s few and far between. Most of her posts are from her time playing at Iowa and her new career with the Indiana Fever. This approach to Instagram shows her dedication and love for basketball above all else. Fans can get to know her through these posts but she can still keep her career and her personal life separate.
This separation is important for someone like Clark. She’s been the talk of the sports world for a long time now and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. The media can be a toxic place that brings a lot of negativity into someone’s life, especially if they post personal things. Keeping her social media presence basketball-focused will help her stay sane in a world of people trying to drag her down.
Candace Parker’s Instagram shows a mix of Reese and Clark’s strategies. With 1.1 million followers, her Instagram gives a glimpse into every part of her life. She talks about her career as a broadcaster, her family, her injuries, the nonprofits she works for and much more.
After a 16-year career in the WNBA, this strategy makes sense for Parker. She has a huge following of loyal fans she’s gained throughout her years playing. With her recent retirement, people want to see how her life looks post-basketball. Reese and Clark are just starting in the league and are still building their brands. Parker already has a brand. People know who she is and she can do anything she wants with her account without the pressure to gain and maintain followers. Her approach to social media makes sense for a person of her status and reputation in her profession.
Building a solid foundation within social media as an athlete is becoming more and more important. Instagram is a good place to connect with fans and show them who you are. Although Reese, Clark and Parker have three very different approaches to the app they have all found the success they deserve.
Image Credit: “Angel Reese Chicago Sky (cropped)” by John Mac is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Image Credit: “Caitlin Clark vs. Minnesota (cropped)” by John Mac is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Image Credit: “Candace Parker (cropped)” by Lorie Shaull is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.