Top 5 LSU Lady Tigers alum who made it to WNBA rosters ft. Angel Reese
The LSU Lady Tigers have produced talented players who have gone on to play in the WNBA since its inception in 1997. Since 1999, there have been 23 LSU alumnae who were picked in the WNBA draft.
Eight Lady Tigers have become first-round picks and 15 others were picked between the second and fourth rounds. Here are the top five LSU Lady Tigers who made it to the WNBA.
Top 5 LSU Lady Tigers who made it to the WNBA
#5. Aiysha Smith (2001-2003)
Aiysha Smith transferred to LSU in 2001 after playing two seasons with St. John's and Tyler Junior College. In two seasons with the Lady Tigers, the 6-foot-2 Smith tallied 14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 1.1 apg.
She was picked No. 7 overall in the first round by the Washington Mystics in the 2003 draft but her WNBA career failed to blossom. She only appeared in 60 games and normed 3.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg on 37.2% shooting from the field.
#4. Marie Ferdinand-Harris (1997-2001)
Marie Ferdinand-Harris played for four seasons with LSU from 1997 to 2001. She appeared in 120 games for the Lady Tigers, averaging 13.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 48.9% from the field.
Ferdinand-Harris was selected eighth overall by the Utah Starzz in the 2001 WNBA draft. The 5-foot-9 shooting guard played 10 seasons with Utah, San Antonio, Los Angeles and Phoenix and was one of the elite position players during her time in the WNBA.
#3. Angel Reese (2022-2024)
Angel Reese played for two seasons in Maryland before transferring to LSU in 2022-23. Reese led the Lady Tigers to the 2023 national championship, beating Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the final. That year, she tallied monster numbers of 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks.
After failing to defend the title this past season, Reese decided to enter the WNBA draft and was picked seventh overall by the Chicago Sky. The 6-foot-3 forward immediately made an impression with the Sky, averaging 13.6 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.3 spg. She was part of the Rookie of the Year conversation this past season after setting a record in double-doubles in a season.
#2. Seimone Augustus (2002-2006)
Seimone Augustus was the leader of the LSU squad that made it to three straight Final Four appearances from 2004-2006. The six-foot Augustus played 140 games for LSU and posted 19.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.4 spg.
She was selected No. 1 overall in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx and played there until 2019. She had a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Sparks before retiring in 2020. Augustus was a four-time WNBA champion and was named Finals MVP in 2011. In her 15-year stint in the WNBA, she tallied 15.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 3.1 apg.
The 40-year-old returned to her alma mater on May 20, 2024, as she was hired as an assistant coach under Kim Mulkey.
#1. Sylvia Fowles (2004-2008)
Sylvia Fowles appeared in 144 games for LSU in four seasons and averaged 15.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 spg and 2.2 bpg. She was a two-time All-American and won the 2008 SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-6 Fowles was picked second overall in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky and continued her stellar career in the pro ranks. She was a two-time WNBA champion and WNBA MVP in 2008 and was an eight-time All-Star, three-time First-Team and five-time Second-Team selection.
In 14 years in the WNBA, she tallied 15.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.1 apg and 1.2 spg. Fowles had her jersey retired by her university and the Minnesota Lynx.