Undeterred Angel McCoughtry eyes WNBA comeback amid prolonged injury hiatus

Angel McCoughtry isn't done yet. Not by a long shot. The two-time Olympian and five-time WNBA All-Star may have played just three games in the league since 2021 but she isn't going to hang up her kicks anytime soon. Her participation in the upcoming Athletes Unlimited season, by her admission, is the starting step for a WNBA comeback.

Destined for greatness, McCoughtry was one to watch out for even before the Atlanta Dream drafted her as the No. 1 pick in 2009. Her formative years saw her dominate, as the wing topped the Big East Conference in scoring, rebounding, and steals. School records were smashed in her sophomore year and she broke her records in her junior year at Louisville. The sheer dominance saw her earn All-American honors as a junior.

The Dream was her platform to showcase her skill, and she did so by leading the franchise to three WNBA Finals during her 10-year stint in Atlanta, which included winning the Rookie of the Year honors in her debut year. She led the league in scoring twice and steals twice.

However, the promising carer was derailed when McCoughtry went down with a left knee injury that saw her 2018 season's final stretch cut short and all but one game of 2019. She later inked a deal with the Las Vegas Aces in 2020 as a free agent — her experience and versatility were key in the franchise reaching the WNBA Finals that season.

Angel McCoughtry during her time with the Las Vegas Aces during the WNBA Finals

It was a double-whammy as a right knee injury just before the 2021 edition sidelined her again. McCoughtry signed with the Minnesota Lynx in 2022 and suited up for two games before being waived.

Delving deeper, it's not rocket science to understand why McCoughtry is undeterred. Elite athletes often come with a never-say-die gene that's injected into their DNA. It's a no-brainer then that the 2x WNBA peak performer wants to scale those peaks again, age be damned. Diana Taurasi is a classic example of keeping up with new-age WNBA stars and being impressive.

Ironically, McCoughtry, in a December 2023 interview with ESPN, called the 'White Mamba' her inspiration when she caught up with former Olympic teammates, Taurasi and Brittney Griner. In the same interview, she admitted to being dejected not playing in 2023.

"I'm not going to waste anybody's time if I don't have it," Angel McCoughtry said. "I know my age; I'll know when it's time to give it up. But I still have something left."

"The domino effect" for Angel McCoughtry was getting hurt after staying healthy for a major part of her storied career. At this stage of her career, she's determined to prove that she can be more than just a veteran presence in a locker room.

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"Want to prove basketball still exists in my world": Angel McCoughtry gets candid on her hooping future

Angel McCoughtry takes the same route as Derrick Rose and Klay Thompson as her whole point of making a comeback is purely for the love of the game. Rose and Thompson suffered devastating injuries when at their prime, but more so than their numbers, their comebacks hold immense respect. With McCoughtry, the sentiment is understandable.

Rapper DaBaby's famous tip-off message ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season was "Hope is a launchpad". His adage comes to mind when listening to McCoughtry looking at AU as her launch vehicle to catapult herself back to the league.

"I look forward to showing that I still have the ability. I feel like playing AU can help me get back in the WNBA. I know the narrative is, ‘She hasn’t played, she’s older.’ I just want to prove basketball still exists in my world."

Sometimes, playing a sport is more than just about winning. And that's ultimately the first step to why Angel McCoughtry is keen to show the world that she's still got it. Only time will tell if she can don another WNBA jersey in the days to come.