Angel Reese's decision gives 2024 WNBA draft class even more star power

Iowa star Caitlin Clark, the presumed No. 1 overall pick, declared earlier this year. South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso, ESPN's projected No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft class, announced her intention to go pro on Monday.

Stanford's Cameron Brink, Tennessee's Rickea Jackson and UConn's Aaliyah Edwards are among the other high-profile stars expected to be selected early in the first round.

With her multiple NIL deals and the loaded WNBA Draft class, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that Reese would go pro this year.

Reese will continue earning money from sponsorships, but her ability to do so collegiately made turning pro unnecessary. 

Her elite rebounding alone makes her more than ready for the WNBA. Per Tankathon, she's the No. 7 prospect in the 2024 class but should move up following Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore's decision to enter the college transfer portal and not declare for the draft.

In ESPN's most recent mock draft, Reese is selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Lynx. That would be arguably the most fitting place for Reese to land, considering that it was the former home of previous LSU greats Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus.

The Lynx selected Augustus with the No. 1 pick of the 2006 WNBA Draft, while Fowles, originally selected second overall by the Chicago Sky in 2008, was traded to the Lynx in 2015.

Augustus was an eight-time All-Star and won four WNBA titles with Minnesota, while Fowles received two Defensive Player of the Year honors, one MVP Award and two titles in eight seasons with the organization.

Reese emerged as a dominant post presence in her sophomore year at Maryland (2021-22) but exploded when she arrived at LSU in 2022-23. She led the Tigers to their first women's basketball championship last season, averaging 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game.

She finishes her college career with 624 career offensive rebounds, the fifth-most in NCAA history.