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LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese isn’t letting money influence her decision to potentially declare for the 2024 WNBA draft.
“For me, I’ve honestly learned that regardless I’m going to be able to make money staying or going,” Reese told reporters on Thursday. “Understanding that my brand has been built, where I know that more than being in college is something I can do.”
"Regardless, I'm going to be able to make money."
Angel Reese says her brand deals will follow her to the WNBA if she decides to go pro at the end of the season 🗣️ @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/QlrDAeyxTy
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 21, 2024
Although she’s currently a senior, she still has an extra year of eligibility remaining due to the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
She’s teased the possibility of returning to the Tigers before, specifically hinting that she may choose to stay with the program in a post on X ahead of senior day on March 3.
“Should I stay, should I go? I don’t know” 🥺💜💛 https://t.co/1zSvq9yr4V
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) February 24, 2024
Reese’s dominance during LSU’s title-winning tournament run in 2023 made her one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. According to the latest NIL evaluations from On3.com, she ranks No. 8 among all college athletes with a valuation of $1.8 million. She also ranks No. 2 among women’s basketball players behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the sport’s all-time leading scorer.
“The deals are going to follow me if I leave or stay,” Reese added on Thursday. “I’ve built that relationship with a lot of these brands. I don’t just have brands that are in college, I have brands that are long-term deals that are just past college and I think that’s the difference.”
If the 2023 Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament ultimately chooses to declare for the draft, her legacy at LSU is a success regardless of the team’s outcome in the 2024 tournament.
In 29 starts during her 2023-24 campaign, Reese averaged 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field. Now, she’ll help the Tigers as they look to emerge from a first-round matchup with Rice on Friday.
