Angel Reese, the formidable force in college basketball, announced her decision to enter the WNBA draft, as reported in an exclusive profile by Vogue magazine on Wednesday. Reese helped put women’s basketball on the map! Her latest game against Iowa drew 12.3 millions viewers. Now she’s ready for the next step in her career.
“I’ve accomplished everything I set out to achieve in college,” Reese stated. “From winning a national championship to earning the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year title and being recognized as an All-American. My sights are now set on my ultimate goal – to become a professional athlete and one of the greatest basketball players in history. I believe I’m ready.”
Photo Cred: SI
The 21-year-old forward, a standout for the LSU Tigers, saw her hopes for back-to-back NCAA titles dashed on Monday. In a rematch against the team they beat for the title they lost in a heartbreaking Elite Eight game to the Iowa Hawkeyes, led by Caitlin Clark. This loss marked the end of a remarkable journey for Reese and the Tigers, who triumphed over the same team in the previous year’s national championship game. Under WNBA rules, players intending to enter the draft must declare their intentions by April 1st.
College athletes participating in the Elite Eight or later stages of the NCAA tournament are granted a 48-hour window following their final game to renounce their NCAA eligibility and declare for the draft. Reese faced a pivotal decision as her deadline loomed on Wednesday night. Despite having the option to extend her college career at LSU for one more season under the COVID-19 waiver, she opted to take her talents to the professional level.
The highly anticipated 2024 WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 15th, where Reese is expected to be a top prospect. Standing tall at 6-foot-3, Reese has been a dominant force in collegiate basketball since transferring to LSU from Maryland in 2022. Her inaugural year in Baton Rouge culminated in a national title win, along with prestigious accolades such as first-team All-American honors and the 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Averaging an impressive 23 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, Reese’s impact on the court was undeniable. During the recently concluded season, Reese continued to showcase her prowess, averaging 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game while registering an astounding 20 double-doubles in 33 regular-season matchups for the Tigers. Her stellar performance extended into the NCAA tournament, where she recorded seven additional double-doubles, including a remarkable 17-point, 20-rebound effort in the heartbreaking loss to Iowa.
As Reese embarks on the next chapter of her basketball journey, she carries with her a legacy of excellence and determination, poised to make her mark in the professional realm and etch her name in the annals of basketball history. With the star power she brings, the WNBA may also feel the growth that women’s college basketball felt this year.
