Angel Reese is ready to be a rookie again.
The LSU All-American forward, who declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft on Wednesday, explained her decision and why it’s important to her to embrace all obstacles in the profession.
“I want to start at the bottom again,” Reese said. Vogue.com He spoke in an interview Monday announcing his career plans after LSU’s season ends with the Iowa Hawkeyes. “I want to go back to being a rookie again and rebuild myself. I want to get beat up and learn and grow at the next level.”
Reese sported a number of designer looks in Vogue’s fashion shoot, which she said was inspired by tennis icon Serena Williams, who announced her retirement in the September 2022 issue.
She posed for a sporty photo wearing a Diesel number (cut-off top and baggy pants) and Reebok sneakers.
Reese signed a NIL contract with Reebok in October 2023.
The LSU star stunned in a multi-colored striped dress by Zankov and Christian Louboutin heels in another shot, in which she wrote Jennifer Fisher jewelry.
Reese, 21, went on to tell the publication that he is “okay” with the big differences between the WNBA and LSU.
LSU players take commercial flights, WNBA talent takes commercial flights.
“I’m going to work with grown women,” Reese said. “I’m going to work with women who have children, women who have families to support. I have to work hard every day. And who doesn’t want that? I’m going to work with women who have children, women who have families to support. I don’t want anything to be easy.”
Reese explained that it was not a decision she made lightly after gaining fame during her time at LSU and leading the Lady Tigers to their first championship in program history last year.
“I think it’s time to move forward and grow.” Reese said In a behind-the-scenes video for Vogue. “It’s a very competitive league, so I’m excited to learn and grow as a rookie and try to dominate as much as I can.”
The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model told Vogue of her decision to declare for the WNBA Draft in a mid-March interview over Zoom from her off-campus apartment in Baton Rouge.
“It was obviously a difficult decision, but it was what was best for my career and my family,” Reese said in another behind-the-scenes TikTok video. “Either be happy for me or not. I don’t care.”
The senior, who calls herself Bayou Barbie, is happy with her college career.
“I’ve done everything I wanted to do in college,” Reese said. “We won the national championship, [Southeastern Conference] player of the year [in the 2023-24 season]I became an All-American.
“My ultimate goal is to go pro and be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. I feel ready.”
The 6-foot-3 Reese transferred to LSU from Maryland in 2022 and averaged 23 points, 15.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game and was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Mr. Reese is the top NIL earner with a NIL valuation of $1.8 million. Per On3looked back on his four years in college basketball. Memorial video on social media.
The Baltimore native is expected to be a top pick in the April 15 draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which will allow fans to participate in the WNBA Draft for the first time.
