NEW ORLEANS — Angel Reese has played her last game at LSU. The Bayou Barbie announced that she is entering the 2024 WNBA Draft on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"BAYOU BARBIE [to]WNBA. all that rah-rah never was the icon issue. Magazines, i’m covering the icon issue…VOGUE, I got REAL issues," Reese said in a tweet.
She had just 48 hours after the Tigers lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight to decide if she was staying at LSU or going pro.
Reese announced the decision via Vogue magazine.
"I've done everything I wanted to in college," Reese said when sharing her plans to enter the WNBA draft with Vogue.
After LSU's season-ending loss to Iowa, Reese reflected on what her life has been like since winning the national championship last season, saying she hasn't had peace.
"It sucks, but I still wouldn't change anything. And I would still sit here and say I'm unapologetically me," Reese said.
This season, she averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.
Her college career began at The University of Maryland. She spent two seasons there before transferring to LSU, where she blossomed into a star.
Last season, she became one of the most well-known women's college basketball players after winning the national championship and being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. She's also garnered First Team All-America, First Team All-SEC, and SEC All-Defensive Team selections while at LSU.
Off the court, she's racked up NIL deals with Raising Cane's, Coach, McDonald's, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse, Campus Ink, Caktus AI, Mercedes Benz of Baton Rouge, SI Swimsuit, Mielle, Starry, Final Fantasy XVI, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and ZOA energy.
On3 says Reese's NIL valuation is currently 1.8 million.
Reese is currently projected as a first-round pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and ESPN has her as the seventh pick in their latest mock draft.
According to Spotrac, WNBA rookie salaries are determined by their draft position. The first-year salary range is $64,154 to $76,535, and it increases by just over $1,000 for the third year.
If Reese is the 7th pick in the draft, she will make over $73,000 in her first season
The 2024 WNBA Draft is set to take place on Monday, April 15, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
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