Bayou Barbie is WNBA bound.
LSU star Angel Reese, who is recognized for her lash extensions, painted nails and aggressive play in the paint, has officially declared for the WNBA draft. She made the announcement on Wednesday, following the Tigers' loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight round of the women's NCAA Tournament.
Reese, who has expressed a passion for fashion and modeling, revealed her decision in a Vogue photo shoot, citing Serena Williams' retirement announcement as an inspiration.
Reese, who had previously considered returning to LSU for another year, confirmed that she had made the decision to turn professional before March Madness started.
Reese told the magazine, "I like to do everything big. I didn't want anything to be basic."
"I've achieved everything I wanted to in college," Reese stated. She has also expressed interest in playing professionally in Europe during the WNBA offseason. "I've won a national championship, received SEC Player of the Year, and been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be one of the greatest basketball players ever. I feel prepared."
Reese, a 6-foot-3 forward with dynamic abilities, is expected to be one of the top players drafted on April 15. Draft analysts have projected her as the seventh or eighth overall pick. The main concern about her game as she exits college is her underdeveloped outside shot.
Reese, who hails from Baltimore and began her college career at Maryland before transferring to LSU in 2022, contributed to the Tigers' national title win in her first season.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey expressed gratitude to Angel Reese for her contributions to the program and the university as a whole. "She helped transform our program," Mulkey said, acknowledging Reese's role in securing the program's first national championship.
Reese recorded 61 double-doubles for the Tigers in two seasons, with Sylvia Fowles being the only player to have more at LSU.
During her time at LSU, Reese averaged 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds per game, achieving seven games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Reese became the first SEC player since Vanderbilt's Wendy Scholtens in 1989 and 1990 to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons.
Reese was named the SEC Player of the Year this season, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA.
"When she came here, she said she wanted to be here for two seasons and she has lived up to that," Mulkey said. "What a remarkable two years it has been."
Mulkey added, "She not only helped grow our program but had an impact on growing the game of women's basketball across the country. We wish her good luck as she moves to the WNBA and look forward to see all that she accomplishes."
Reese became well-known during LSU’s championship run last year as a highly skilled basketball player and lively personality. She was easy to approach and interacted well with fans and the media off the court, while confidently taunting her opponents on it. Reese grew up playing basketball with her brother and other boys in Baltimore, and she has stated that this made her become tough both physically and mentally on the court.
She is called “the Queen” by her teammates and would be given a tiara by a teammate during pregame introductions.
Since winning the title, Reese mentioned that she has faced increased scrutiny, but she confirmed that she would continue to stay true to herself without apologizing.
Her teammates supported her leadership and the challenges she has faced, including a period earlier this season when she was suspended by Mulkey for four games right before Thanksgiving — time that she used for a self-described mental health break.
“Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her,” Flau’jae Johnson said. “I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring, loving person. But the crown she wears is heavy. She’s the type of teammate that’s going to make you believe in yourself.”
Players not competing in the Elite Eight had until Monday to renounce their remaining eligibility. Players like Reese, who were competing in the Elite Eight or beyond, had about 48 hours after their final game to make their decision.
In what was her final college game, Reese injured her ankle in the second quarter against Iowa and still finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out in the final two minutes of the game.
Reese was one of the top NIL earners in college, with a valuation of $1.8 million, according toOn3.com. Many of those deals could now become the type of endorsements on which professional athletes typically cash in.
