Angel Reese is prepared to carry her influence from NCAA basketball to the WNBA stage.

Angel Reese is excited to witness the unprecedented attention women’s basketball has received in the past month transition into the WNBA. The former LSU standout, expected to be picked in the top 10 of the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15, expressed her enthusiasm on Friday, emphasizing the significance of elevating women’s sports. This enthusiasm comes on the heels of record-breaking viewership for the NCAA women’s tournament, with a remarkable 12.3 million viewers tuning in to watch LSU take on Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in an Elite Eight showdown.

Reflecting on her collegiate achievements and those of other players, Reese emphasized the importance of carrying this momentum into the WNBA, acknowledging the groundwork laid by veteran players. Speaking during a pre-draft event at Raising Cane’s in Manhattan, the 21-year-old highlighted the deserving nature of these veterans and their contributions to the sport.

Less than a week after the intense clash between Clark’s Hawkeyes and the reigning champion Tigers, which saw Iowa emerge victorious with a 94-87 win, a staggering average of 18.7 million viewers watched the championship game between Iowa and South Carolina. The Gamecocks sealed an undefeated season with an 87-75 victory, surpassing the viewership of the men’s final between Purdue and eventual champion UConn, as well as any other basketball game, men’s or women’s, collegiate or professional, since 2019.