Angel Reese, a star player for women’s basketball at the NCAA, said on Wednesday that she had completed her college career and intended to enter the 2024 WNBA draft.
According to Reese, 21, a 6-foot-3 forward at Louisiana State University, she was inspired by tennis legend Serena Williams, who announced her retirement in the September 2022 issue of Vogue, and didn’t want to be “basic.”
“I’ve completed all of my college requirements,” Reese declared. “I’ve been an All-American, won a national championship, and won Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference.” My ultimate objective is to become a professional basketball player and one of the best players of all time. I think I’m prepared.
NBC News was unable to get in touch with Reese’s reps right away on Wednesday in order to obtain any comment.
Reese’s final college game took place on Monday, when her LSU Tigers fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes 94-87 in the women’s tournament Elite Eight. Reese managed 20 rebounds and 17 points.
The much awaited rematch of last year’s championship game, which LSU won this time, attracted record crowds and included Iowa standout guard Caitlin Clark in addition to Reese. ESPN reports that the rematch attracted the highest viewership in the history of women’s collegiate basketball, 12.3 million.
FanDuel said to CNBC on Tuesday that the Iowa-LSU game was also their biggest-ever women’s sports betting event.
Reese finished the 2023–2024 season with an average of over 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Since her team’s elimination from the NCAA tournament this week, Reese broke down in tears and revealed that she had been receiving death threats since LSU’s victory over Iowa in the previous year’s championship game.
She approached Clark at the end of the game and waved her open palm across her face, a gesture made popular by WWE star John Cena to signify “You can’t see me.” This is when the backlash began. Then, Reese made a gesture indicating she would receive a championship ring by pointing to her ring finger.
Following that, Reese claimed she experienced a year-long tidal wave of assault.
“I’ve experienced a lot,” she remarked to reporters. “I’ve witnessed a lot. I’ve received numerous threats and attacks. Someone has sexualized me. Someone has threatened me. I’ve been a lot of things, and each time, I’ve persevered.
Reese stated on Monday, “Since I won the national championship, all of this has happened.” And even if it stinks, I wouldn’t alter a thing. I would continue to sit here and declare that I am who I am without apology. I’m going to stay true to who I am and leave that mark forever.
Reese still qualified for college for another year. She told Vogue that although she might not have as many resources as she did at the dominant LSU women’s basketball program, she is okay with adjusting to life in the WNBA.
She declared, “I want to start at the bottom again.” “I want to be knocked down and learn and grow at the next level; I want to be a rookie again and build myself back up.”
