Angel Reese of LSU.Photo: C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty
Angel Reeseis headed to the WNBA.
On Wednesday, the 21-year-old LSU star announced she has played her final game for the Tigers and will enter the WNBA Draft on April 15.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Reesewrote, “Grateful for these last four years and excited for this next chapter. #BAYOUBARBIEOUT,” along with a video tribute to her four years at the university.
In the video, Reese thanked her family, her mom, teachers, coaches and managers, among others, for their support during her college career, all set to various clips of her on the court.
“All of this is because of you, thank you for loving me and supporting me in everything I do,” Reese said in a voiceover.
“I’m leaving college with everything I’ve ever wanted,” Reese continued, listing “a degree, a national championship, and this platform I could have never imagined” as a few of the highlights she’s taking away from her experience at LSU.
Angel Reese of LSU.Eakin Howard/Getty
Eakin Howard/Getty
In tandem with her announcement,Voguereleased a new interview with Reese in which she discusses her next chapter.
“To sum it up, it’s been crazy,” Reese toldVogueof her four years at LSU. “I’ve done everything I wanted to in college.”
The 2023ESPY’s breakout athlete of the yearnoted, “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro — and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”
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Reese told the magazine that the decision to declare for this year’s draft wasn’t an easy one, and she’s ready for the change that’ll occur when she enters the professional league.
“I want to start at the bottom again,” she said. “I want to be a rookie again and build myself back up. I want to be knocked down and learn and grow at the next level.”
Christopher Polk/Variety
Reese played her final game for the Tigers on April 1 as LSU fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round. She had 17 points, 22 rebounds and four assists for LSU, just behind the Tigers' lead scorer,Flau’jae Johnson, with 23.
The loss denied the Tigers an opportunity to be the first repeat champions since UConn in 2016.
Caitlin Clarkis expected to go first overall to the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft on April 15, with Stanford’sCameron Brinkprojected at second, which would land her in Los Angeles with the Sparks. Reese is predicted to go slightly later, with the seventh or eighth pick.
source: people.com
