The Las Vegas Aces are preparing for the 2024 WNBA season where they plan to become only the second team ever to win three consecutive league championships.
However, they will have to do so without Angel Jackson, a top HBCU star at Jackson State who was recently waived. Jackson, a former three-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, was released by the Aces, as confirmed by local team reporter Callie Lawson-Freeman.
In a statement released Tuesday, The Aces confirmed their decision to release Jackson.
LAS VEGAS (May 7, 2024)—Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has waived rookie forward Angel Jackson.
Selected by the Aces at No. 36 in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Jackson was a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year while playing for Jackson State. She averaged 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in her two seasons at Jackson State, while blocking 171 shots in 64 games. Jackson transferred to JSU after playing her first three seasons at USC.
The Aces, who will play a preseason game against Puerto Rico on May 11 in South Carolina, tip-off their season against Phoenix at 7 pm on May 14 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as prior to the game the Aces will receive their 2023 WNBA Championship rings and unveil their championship banner in Michelob ULTRA Arena.
After learning of her release, Jackson took to Twitter, simply stating “15 will be back.”
Jackson, a player from Jackson State, was picked by the Las Vegas Aces as the 36th and final pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.
She’s the seventh HBCU player to be drafted in the WNBA and the second player from JSU to be drafted in the last three years, following Ameshya-Williams Holliday in 2022.
Jackson was aiming to become the first HBCU player to make an active WNBA roster since 2008 when a former Howard center was a member of the Washington Mystics.
The Las Vegas Aces are scheduled to play their preseason opener this Saturday at the University of South Carolina against the Puerto Rican national team.