Angel Reese Breaks Silence on Why She Was Drafted Seventh in 2024 WNBA Draft

The 2024 WNBA Draft was significant for several reasons, particularly the selection of Caitlin Clark as the first overall pick and Angel Reese as the seventh pick, who have developed a rivalry.

Some were surprised that Reese, a highly regarded college player at LSU, was chosen seventh, especially as her team, the Chicago Sky, is experiencing a seven-game losing streak.

Reese discussed the reasons behind her draft selection on her show "Unapologetically Angel." During the episode, her co-host inquired about the buzz surrounding her potential Rookie of the Year status.

The 22-year-old expressed that she did not anticipate the intense reaction to her draft selection, especially amid opinions that she was "not ready for the league."

“My whole thing was like, when I got drafted No. 7. So I'm like, cool, the pressure is not even on me because I'm drafted seven, so the pressure shouldn't be up there,” Reese said at the 19:16 mark. “So I'm like, all right, cool, I can just hoop, Ss I don't know when, like, it started to just break out where I was just in Rookie of the Year conversations. … Everybody told me I was not ready for the league. And that's why I got drafted seven. They told me I wasn't ready. I wouldn't play, I would've gotten cut from training camp, I wasn't, like, I was not ready. It wouldn't translate.”

Despite the debate over Reese's shooting abilities, she has consistently delivered double-doubles, averaging 13.3 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game with a field-goal percentage of 38.4%.

Remarkably, she has broken the record for the most rebounds in a single season during her rookie year, with 434 rebounds and counting, while there are seven games left to play in the season.

“Coming into the [WNBA], I just knew my motor… offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds is something I know I can always do. I knew it was going to translate right away,” Reese said. “A lot of people think it's because I get my own rebounds when statistically it's not.

“A lot of people think it's because I'm the tallest on the court when I'm not the tallest on the court. Just being able to go down there and bang and do things a lot of people don't want to do [helps me thrive].”

Reese will hope to end the year on a high note, beginning the first of the Sky's last seven regular-season matchups against the Los Angeles Sparks tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Related: Angel Reese Shares True Story on How WNBA Teams Regret 2024 Draft Snub