Angel Reese, the ex-Louisiana State University standout nicknamed Bayou Barbie of Baton Rouge, recently took to social media to say goodbye to the Tigers community as she readies herself for her debut season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) with the Chicago Sky.

In a brief clip shared on her Instagram account, the seventh pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft conveyed her message to LSU supporters before the commencement of the WNBA season, accompanied by the following caption:

“Not goodbye, but see you later”

“Hey guys, Angel Reese here; the Bayou Barbie. Thank you guys for these amazing two years here, the amazing experiences, the amazing memories, the fanbase was amazing, the amazing culture, amazing food, and memories I’ll never forget–especially the national championship.”

She continues:

“This is not a goodbye, it’s just a ‘see you later, I hope you guys are still fans of me in the WNBA. I’m now a part of the Chicago Sky, and I know you guys are gonna support me.”

Reese announced her decision to switch her jersey number to 5 for the Chicago Sky, departing from her previous numbers 1 and 10 during her tenure at LSU. Regardless, there’s considerable anticipation that this year’s seventh pick will emerge as one of the most promising rising stars in the WNBA, alongside former South Carolina standout and now teammate Kamilla Cardoso, chosen third overall by Chicago.

Both Cardoso and Reese are set to take center stage for the Chicago Sky, a team that struggled with an 18-22 record in the 2023 season. Their challenges included enduring five and six-game losing streaks and a premature playoff exit against the Las Vegas Aces, marking Chicago’s second consecutive early postseason departure after falling to the New York Liberty the year before.

The arrival of Reese and Cardoso has injected renewed vigor into the Chicago franchise, eliciting enthusiastic responses from fans. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and NBA legend Dwayne Wade, a minority owner of both the Chicago Bulls and Sky, joined in welcoming the duo to the team. Additionally, Julia Bianchi and Cari Roccaro of the Chicago Red Stars soccer team, among others, extended their greetings to the newcomers.