Angel Reese has been seen at an NBA game between the Pelicans and the Orlando Magic in New Orleans, a few hours after declaring for the WNBA draft in a photo shoot for Vogue.
The women’s college basketball star sat courtside with now-former LSU Lady Tigers teammate Amani Bartlett at the Smoothie King Center, as the Pelicans’ social media team shared a photo of the pair on Instagram .
The caption of the post read: ‘shout out to @lsuwbkb for going out tonight’, along with a crown emoji.
Reese greeted fans and posed for photos in a loose-fitting white Balenciaga hoodie, while Bartlett wore black and white Chanel-designed sneakers with a striped varsity jacket at the game.
Reese, known for her eyelash extensions, painted nails and fierce play with paint, formally declared for the WNBA draft on Wednesday. Her decision comes two days after the Lady Tigers’ season ended with a loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite Eight round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. LSU are the reigning national champions.
LSU forward Amani Bartlett and Angel Reese were at the Pelicans game on Wednesday. against magic
Reese’s presence in New Orleans comes two days after LSU was bounced from March Madness.
Reese, who has expressed interest in working in fashion and modeling, shared her announcement through a Vogue photo shoot, saying she was inspired by tennis great Serena Williams who announced her retirement in 2022 in a similar fashion.
Reese, who had publicly left open the option of returning for one more year at LSU, acknowledged deciding to turn pro before March Madness began.
“Of course, I like to do everything big,” Reese told the magazine. “I didn’t want anything to be basic.”
“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” added Reese, who also expressed interest in playing professionally in Europe during the WNBA offseason. ‘I’ve won a national championship, I’ve been (Southeastern Conference) Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to go pro and be one of the best basketball players that has ever lived. “I feel like I’m ready.”
Reese, a dynamic 6-foot-3 forward who can run the floor, protect the perimeter and block shots anywhere, will likely join Clark, Indiana’s expected No. 1 pick, as one of the top players selected on the 15th. of April.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is expected to follow Reese and declare for the WNBA Draft in late April.
Draft analysts have projected Reese as a seventh or eighth overall choice. An undeveloped outside shot is one of the few questions about her game as she leaves college.
Reese grew up in Baltimore and began his college career at Maryland, where his brother Julian plays for the men’s team. He transferred to LSU in 2022 and the Tigers won the program’s only national title in Reese’s first season.
“She helped transform our program,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “We are all indebted to Angel Reese for the contributions she made to this program, helping us win our first national championship, and the contributions she made to our university as a whole.”
Reese recorded 61 double-doubles for the Tigers in two seasons. Only former WNBA player Sylvia Fowles, who played for the Minnesota Lynx (2015-2022) and Chicago Sky (2008-14), had more double-doubles at LSU. Fowles played one more season of college basketball (4) than Reese (3).
Only former Minnesota Lynx player Sylvia Fowles had more double-doubles at LSU than Reese.
Reese averaged 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds per game at LSU, including 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.
This season, Reese was named SEC Player of the Year. Reese has played four college seasons, but she was among the athletes who were granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because her career overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When he came here, he said he wanted to be here for two seasons and he lived up to that,” Mulkey said. ‘It has been such an extraordinary two years.
“She not only helped grow our program, but she also had an impact on the growth of women’s basketball across the country,” Mulkey added. “We wish her good luck as she moves to the WNBA and look forward to seeing everything she accomplishes.”