It’s no guarantee that a top WNBA draft pick will make the roster of the team that drafted them with a league-wide 144-player limit. This often results in one of the top prospects left without a home come the beginning of the season.

Former LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese is well aware of the stakes. Even though the Chicago Sky selected her No. 7 overall, she was their second selection after taking former South Carolina Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso with the No. 3 overall pick. Even though she’s developed a great relationship with her fellow rookie, she still knows how important it is to remain competitive for a roster spot.

LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese (10) and LSU Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith (11) take questions from the media at MVP Arena, Sunday, March 31, 2024 in Albany, N.Y.

Angel Reese speaks to members of the media ahead of the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament.

© Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

“It’s a mindset just being able to come in here and not make any excuses because everybody in here is just fighting to be on a team and just fighting for greatness,” Reese told CBS Chicago. “Coming in here, I didn’t have the mindset to just be tired, I had the mindset of just going to work every single day and figuring everything else out later. I’m just happy to be here in this moment.”

Cardoso and Reese are two of four rookies fighting for a spot on the Chicago Sky ahead of the May 13th final-cut deadline. The Sky head to Minnesota to face off against the Lynx in their pre-season opener Friday.