Angel Reese shouts out Caleb Williams during NFL Draft as both set to start pro careers in Chicago
The Chicago Bears made the NFL dreams of quarterback Caleb Williams come true on Thursday night, as they selected him No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He joined the same city as former LSU women’s basketball star, Angel Reese. She was recently selected by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. So shortly after Caleb Williams went to the Bears, Reese had to shout out Williams, who is from Washington, D.C., close to her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
The Chicago Sky have selected forward Angel Reese with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Maryland before transferring to LSU for her final two seasons.
In the 2023-24 season, Reese averaged 18.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.1% from the floor. For her efforts, Reese was named the 2024 SEC Player of the Year.
Reese led LSU on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, including a statement 78-69 win over No. 2 seed UCLA. In the Tigers’ season-ending loss to national runner-up Iowa, Reese tallied a stunning 17 points and 20 rebounds.
Although Reese didn’t find the same levels of success at Maryland, she still boasted impressive figures. In two seasons with the Terrapins, Reese averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per outing, shooting 49.3% from the field.
“I’m leaving college with everything I ever wanted,” Reese said in her WNBA Draft declaration. “A degree. A national championship. And this platform, I could’ve never imagined. This is for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in, it’s unapologetic you.
“To grow up in sports, and to have an impact on those coming next. This was a difficult decision. But I trust the next chapter. Because I know the author. Bayou Barbie out.”
Both Caleb Williams and Angel Reese enjoyed great success
Caleb Williams put together an impressive college career, starting at Oklahoma in 2021 and finishing with two years at USC. His biggest season came as a sophomore in 2022 when he threw for 4,537 yards, ran for 382 yards and totaled 50 touchdowns – 40 in the air and 10 on the ground. That helped him bring home the Heisman Trophy.
Williams didn’t see the same type of success in 2023, but his numbers were still impressive. He threw for 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns to go with 11 rushing scores. USC had an up-and-down year en route to a 7-5 record as the defense struggled, but Williams’ draft stock didn’t change. He’ll now try to be the franchise quarterback Bears fans have been waiting to see.
Williams was a five-star recruit and the No. 7 overall player from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 was higher on Williams, ranking him as the No. 1 recruit in the On300 Rankings.
On3’s Nick Schultz and Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.