Former LSU star Angel Reese was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. The “Bayou Barbie” discussed teaming up with former SEC rival Kamilla Cardoso — who played for South Carolina and won two championships under head coach Dawn Staley and was also drafted by the Chicago Sky — to inspire young Black girls.
“My first time playing Kamilla [Cardoso] was on one of the biggest stages of my life when she played for Hamilton Heights [Christian Academy] and I played for Saint Frances [Academy] in high school, and we battled,” Reese said of her former high school and college rival and new teammate.
“Now being able to be teammates is going to be amazing,” she added while speaking at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “I actually talked to her earlier; I was congratulating her. I know she just came off an amazing run and amazing college career, so I’m looking forward to playing with her in practice, and then in games just bouncing off of each other. So, I’m excited for this.”
Reese — who wore a glamorous hooded gown designed by Bronx & Banco — also discussed her new head coach, WNBA legend and off-court leader Teresa Weatherspoon.
“[Weatherspoon] was coached by [Reese’s college head coach Kim] Mulkey, so [I] kind of thought maybe I’ll go there,” she said. “[Weatherspoon] felt like a mother to me. Being able to be a Black woman and as a head coach and everything she’s done at the WNBA level, I just knew everything they were bringing to the table.”
Reese shared advice for young girls.
“Just be you,” she said. “A lot of people may just tell you that you can’t do certain things and you are going to get more yeses than noes, and I had to realize that. Just being able to be authentic — and people love me because who I am — I have those tough conversations. I say things that a lot of people are scared to say and took that scary step. I took a scary step of faith going to LSU not knowing what could happen, and look how my life has completely changed. So being able to just believe in yourself, trusting yourself and have an amazing team behind me is great.”
