Which Team Can Welcome Angel Reese in 2024 WNBA Draft?

“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college. I feel like I’m ready,” said Angel Reese when she declared for the 2024 WNBA draft. Several college basketball stars such as Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aaliyah Edwards had already declared for the Draft. Joining this list is LSU’s Angel Reese, whose recent announcement about the big day on April 15 didn’t really come as a surprise. Ahead of last season, Reese was arguably the biggest draw in women’s college basketball as she led the Lady Tigers to their first-ever National Championship. But things have changed over the past 12 months.

While a few analysts and fans believe she should stay one more year at LSU and refine her skills a bit, Reese has her mind set on her goal, which is to go pro. With this draft class expected to be the greatest ever in the history of women’s basketball, let’s explore where the Bayou Barbie might land.

There are bigger names ahead of Angel Reese

According to the 2024 WNBA mock draft, Angel Reese will most likely be picked up by the Minnesota Lynx with the 7th pick. The serial of the mock draft picks is affirming, however, that is susceptible to change except for the potential No. 1 draft pick, Caitlin Clark.

Reese’s 6-foot-3 height justifies her strength of rebounding prowess. Besides, the Lynx already has the required personnel with Napheesa Collier leading the team from the front. So, narrowing it down, Reese’s defensive skills bring something different to the table for the team. Also, Reese will be required to grow and improve her skills to the point where she can pose a potential threat on the offensive end. Her abilities and shortcomings were highly visible in the tournament’s Elite 8 matchup against Iowa.

In the game, she recorded a double-double with 17 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks on a recovering ankle. Her all-around game was noticeable but her shooting numbers need improvement. She shot 49.8% from the floor during her stay in Louisiana. However, most of those buckets came from inside the paint. It won’t be as easy to score from inside in the WNBA. Nevertheless, her defense will help any team in the league.

In her senior season, Reese successfully demonstrated her defensive versatility by guarding several positions and players bigger than her size. On that note, let’s see what difference she is expected to make in the big league.

What will be Reese’s impact on the WNBA?

Angel achieved it all in her two seasons at LSU. She became a national champion, an All-American, and received the SEC Player of the Year honors along with the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Final Four. But Reese will need to put in some effort to adjust according to the requirements of the league. In other words, she needs to sharpen her ability to shoot outside the paint.

“I’d like to see her evolve her game outside of 10 feet. If she’s going to play the four at the pro level, I think she’s got to work on her free throws and her outside shot,” said WNBA’s general manager, clearly indicating what kind of excellence Reese needs to have as a WNBA player.

Interestingly, Reese does understand what kind of environment and players she is going to be surrounded with in the WNBA. “I’ll be working with grown women. I’ll be working with women that have kids, women that have a family to feed. I’m going to have to work my butt off every single day and grind. And who wouldn’t want that? I don’t want anything in my life to be easy,” Reese stated.

While there might be more intriguing names in the Draft class this year, Reese is someone who is expected to play a major role in the league. Where it comes is a question that will be answered on April 15.

Read More: Caitlin Clark Leads, Angel Reese Misses Out – Explore Top 5 WNBA Draft Projections