LSU star Angel Reese, who led the Tigers to the 2023 national championship, is headed to the WNBA. Reese announced Wednesday that she will forgo one final season of college eligibility to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Reese announced his decision in a Vogue article Wednesday, two days after LSU’s season ended with a loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight.
“I did everything I wanted to do in college,” Reese told Vogue. “I won a national championship, was named (SEC) player of the year and was an All-American. My ultimate goal is to become a pro – and be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. I feel like I’m ready.
I am grateful for the last four years and excited for this next chapter. #BAYOUBARBIEOUT pic.twitter.com/EvkzUW08JV
– Reese Angel (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2024
The 6-foot-3 forward joins a strong draft class that includes Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Stanford’s Cameron Brink.
Reese’s season ended in disappointment with the loss to the Hawkeyes in a national championship rematch on Monday. She finished with 17 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks, but struggled shooting in the second half and fouled out, ending the Tigers’ quest to win back-to-back titles.
Reese raised his profile and played the last two seasons at LSU, particularly in last season’s national championship win over Iowa. She averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game this season. She leaves LSU with several honors: SEC Player of the Year, two All-SEC teams and the tournament’s most outstanding player award. She broke Sylvia Fowles’ LSU record with 34 double-doubles in 2023, and her six 20-point, 20-rebound games were the most by an LSU player since 1977. With her success, Reese won multiple names, images and likeness offers.
“I always wanted to be one of the best players in the country, but I never knew my inspiration outside of that,” Reese said. Athleticism last fall. “Being able to have a voice and be put out there and just be unapologetically myself — I think that’s helped develop a different type of community for people who don’t always have a voice.” I speak on behalf of a platform of people who don’t feel like they can say certain things.
Reese transferred from Maryland after her sophomore season. She said she chose LSU because of its “winning culture” and her confidence in coach Kim Mulkey’s ability to “help me become the player I need to get to the next level.” . Due to the NCAA’s pandemic eligibility, she could have returned to LSU for a third year.
Although Reese has achieved great success with the Tigers, highlighted by their championship victory over Iowa in 2023, Athleticism projects Reese as the No. 8 selection in the upcoming WNBA draft.
The draft will take place on April 15 in Brooklyn, NY
One general manager, granted anonymity to speak freely about members of the 2024 WNBA draft class, called Reese an “enigma” but added: “Obviously, she produces. No matter what people say she can’t do, she produces. His production speaks for itself.
“At our level, there will be a transition, but I think she will be able to understand it and find a solution, to have an impact,” continued the general director. “But there will be a period of transition and how quickly it will depend on her, the work she does and her ability to continue to develop.”
Another general manager added: “She has very long arms, gadget arms. I watch her rebound and she goes against bigger players, but a lot of times she gets there on her ability. Its length is crazy. She’s just a competitor. I like his fight. I don’t know if she’ll talk as much as she did in college. But I think she will do just fine.
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(Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)