Angel Reese will face steep learning curve in WNBA

Angel Reese’s transition into the WNBA could be challenging, according to WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes.

Swoopes believes that LSU star Angel Reese will face a steep learning curve in the WNBA.

As one of several top prospects for the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese may find it more difficult to adjust to the professional game than some might expect.

“During her first few years, she would just be another player in the WNBA,” Swoopes recently said on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast with Gilbert Arenas. She clarified that her comments were not meant as criticism towards Reese, but rather as a realistic assessment of what the league is like.

“I have no reason to hate,” Swoopes added. “I’ve been there, done that. You’re trying to get to where I’ve been. The reason why I say that is because people are fighting for jobs and there aren’t a lot of spaces, not a lot of spots. People are fighting for jobs.”

Swoopes emphasized that this doesn’t mean Reese won’t perform well in the WNBA. She simply wants to highlight the common adjustment period for college stars transitioning to the professional level. Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu, for example, faced similar challenges.

“There are so many players that I could point to that this has happened to when they entered the league,” Swoopes continued. “Sabrina left Oregon with high expectations, and people thought she would dominate in the WNBA.”

However, Ionescu’s rookie season was cut short due to injury, and in 2021, she faced ongoing injuries while averaging 11.7 points. It took Ionescu a few years to reach the level many expected of her.

“I don’t think people truly understand how talented these women are,” Swoopes said. “You can’t just leave college and replicate your college success in the WNBA. These are highly skilled professionals who have matured both physically and mentally.”