Angel Reese shouts out class of 2020 featuring Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers for transforming women’s basketball

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have transformed both college basketball as well as the WNBA. The two have become the transformational force that is helping women’s basketball reach new heights and the league hopes it continues into this season.

Angel Reese came into the WNBA as a national champion and brought along a fan following that has helped the league grow. Clark’s millions of fans followed her into the league after watching her break NCAA records left right and center.

Along with them in the same 2024 WNBA draft class were Cameron Brink and Kamilla Cardoso. Had the former not torn her ACL and Cardoso suffered growing pains, they both could have had a great impact as well. Both of them are also national champions.

Now Paige Bueckers joins them as an NCAA national champion after her UConn Huskies defeated South Carolina. It so happens that all five of them are from the same high school recruiting class of 2020, which prompted Angel Reese to write this on X.

The Chicago Sky star is proud of what her recruiting class has done to transform women’s basketball. Along with Hailey Van Lith‘s performances for TCU, this 2020 recruiting class have managed to etch their names into the sport’s history.

2020 class has done so many special things for the game. #proud

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 6, 2025

Now Bueckers and Van Lith are set to enter the WNBA draft. This means next season, the six will be looking to continue helping the league push towards greater heights. It will not be long before all of them are in the running for individual awards as well as championships.

2020 recruiting class gearing for unreal WNBA season

Angel Reese set a new record for rebounds per game. Caitlin Clark notched up the most assists in a single season. Cameron Brink was on her way to win the Defensive Player of the Year before her season-ending injury.

Now with a season under their belt, these three will look to dominate the statistics sheet every week. At to that, Kamilla Cardoso was lighting up the Chinese league in the offseason. With some developmental work with new head coach Tyler Marsh, she could become a dominating post player.

Paige Bueckers’ efficiency and perimeter defense are already exemplary. With a rejigged Dallas Wings team, she could be in the playoff hunt soon. Any team that drafts Hailey Van Lith will instantly get a pro ready point guard.

If she can continue to defy the odds, she can build on that and show the world how good she is. This means, these three guards and three post players are poised to improve their impact in the WNBA. In a few years, the recruiting class of 2020 should be defining the league.

Hailey Van Lith could join former teammate Angel Reese in WNBA

Paige Bueckers will go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. But for fellow recruiting class of 2020 and Team USA teammate Hailey Van Lith, the possibilities are still wide open. Her performances this season helped fix her reputation after Caitlin Clark seemingly destroyed it a season ago.

But with that comes the question as to where she will end up. Many mock drafts have her going anywhere from No. 9 – 12. If the Los Angeles Sparks do not pick her at 9, she could fall right into the lap of the Chicago Sky.

They do have Courtney Vandersloot as their starting point guard, but her career is towards the end. What better situation than to slot behind her and learn from the two-time WNBA champion. Van Lith will also reunite with Reese, which will likely make the Chicago Sky one of the most followed teams in the league.

Marketing potential notwithstanding, the combination of Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese and Van Lith can be a good core for their future. The Sky will have three of the best young players in the league, therefore it is unlikely that they will pass up this opportunity.

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