Angel Reese not planning to be the usual WNBA rookie: ‘I’m gonna be vocal’

CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams assess the Jets draft, offseason and the impact Haason Reddick will provide

CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams assess the Jets draft, offseason and the impact Haason Reddick will provideclose

Angel Reese came in hot to training camp with the Chicago Sky.

Reese — who was the No. 7 overall pick out of LSU in the WNBA draft last month — gave a speech to her teammates about her confidence and commitment, along with a promise to be super vocal in her rookie season.

“I don’t know if they’ve ever had a rookie be so confident coming in,” the 21-year-old Reese said in a interview with NBC Chicago. “Being able to be super vocal, being able to just step up for them and be there for them. So, I try to be everything I can for this team and I know my mentality every day coming into practice is going to be helpful … even though I’m a rookie.

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LSU’s Angel Reese, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft on April 15, 2024, in New York.AP

“I feel super comfortable. We had a dinner before we even started training camp and I told them, I was like, ‘I’m a rookie but I’m gonna be vocal. I’m gonna be confident. I’m gonna come in here and just work every day. I’m going to push everybody in practice because I know the greatness out of all of you guys. I’ve watched you guys since you were in college. I watched you guys as pros because I admired to be here one day.’

“And now I’m playing with such amazing players and being able to have this opportunity, I don’t want this to slip out of my hands. You know this is a tough league to play in. I would rather have these letters across my jersey right now. Chicago Sky is who I’m playing for and [what] I’m excited for.”

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model emphasized repeatedly that she has no fear entering the league.

“A lot of people didn’t think I would get drafted top 10,” said Reese, who was named 2024 SEC Player of the Year. “I’m super confident in who I am and I know what I can do and my capabilities … I’m not scared of anybody. … Those vets on the other teams don’t care. They’re going to come at me every single day and that’s what i want them to do. I want it to be hard. I think my teammates have prepared me for this moment.”

The Sky also used their No. 3 overall pick on 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso, who won a championship with the Gamecocks when they beat Iowa — and Caitlin Clark, the first-overall pick in the 2024 draft — in the NCAA title game last month.

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Angel Reese arrives prior to the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in New York City.Getty Images
Reese also said she’s planning to get together with quarterback Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I hope the Bulls get some guys too [in the NBA draft]. We lit right now,” Reese said. “We’re turning the city up right now. They’re supporting women’s basketball, not just the football … just being able to gravitate toward us and everybody in the community is great, bringing us all together.”

“We talked when he got drafted,” Reese said of Williams. “I don’t know when he’s going to be here but we’re all going to hang out. My friends are coming down and we’re all going to hang out because we’re all cool, so I’m excited.”

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Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears poses for a photo during his introductory press conference after being drafted first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft Thursday at Halas Hall on April 26, 2024 in Lake Forest, Illinois.Getty Images
Reese and Williams both grew up in the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) and were friends before they went pro.

“That’s my dog. Me and Caleb are cool,” she said. “One of my good friends is best friends with him that are in my friend group. So, we’re all from the DMV area. Just being able to have another DMV tie.”

Reese, a Baltimore native, led the Lady Tigers to their first championship in program history when LSU beat Clark and the Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA championship game.

She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.