Rae Burrell Bio
Rae Burrell (born June 21, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Vinyl of Unrivaled. A versatile wing listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), she has played shooting guard and small forward throughout her career. She first gained national recognition as a top high school recruit in Nevada before developing into a multi-year contributor for the Tennessee Volunteers.
After four collegiate seasons in the Southeastern Conference, Burrell was selected ninth overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Beyond the WNBA, she has built an international résumé that includes stints in Australia and Belgium, a season in Athletes Unlimited, and a roster spot in the inaugural Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.
Early Life and Background
Rae Burrell was born on June 21, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. She grew up in Henderson, Nevada, where she attended Liberty High School and emerged as one of the top basketball prospects in the state. Her size, length, and scoring instincts made her a natural fit for the wing positions from an early age.
As a senior at Liberty High School, Burrell capped her prep career by being named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018. That statewide honor signaled her arrival as a Division I recruit and helped set the stage for her commitment to the University of Tennessee.
Path to Basketball
Burrell was ranked the 43rd overall recruit by ESPN’s HoopGurlz recruiting rankings and chose to play for the Tennessee Volunteers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Her pathway through the SEC featured steady year-over-year growth, with her role and offensive responsibilities expanding each season.
She earned the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and was named to the SEC All-Second Team in 2021, underscoring both her classroom performance and her on-court production. By her senior year she was regarded as the 24th best women’s college basketball player entering the 2021–2022 season, which positioned her as a clear professional prospect.
Rae Burrell Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Burrell arrived at Tennessee in 2018 and played in every game during her freshman season, averaging 12.7 minutes and posting a season-high 14 points twice against Presbyterian and Florida A&M. As a sophomore, she became the team’s top reserve, finishing the year averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, including her first career double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi State.
Her junior season marked a clear breakthrough. Burrell averaged 16.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and was the only Volunteer to start every game that year. She scored 22 points against Middle Tennessee in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament and continued to perform as a primary scoring option. Before her senior year, she was ranked the 24th best player in the nation and battled through a knee injury against Southern Illinois before returning to play 22 games and average 12.3 points and 3.9 rebounds, ultimately leading the Volunteers back to the Sweet Sixteen. On March 29, she announced on Instagram that she would forgo her extra year of eligibility and declare for the 2022 WNBA Draft.
WNBA Breakthrough (2022–Present)
Burrell was selected ninth overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Her rookie season was disrupted by a foot injury that limited her to three games, but she returned the following year on a hardship contract, was briefly released, and then re-signed on June 17, 2023. She played in 29 games that season, averaging 11.1 minutes per game.
On February 1, 2024, Burrell signed a multi-year contract with the Sparks. She began the year playing sporadically but gradually carved out a larger role, appearing in 37 games, starting the final seven, and averaging 15.6 minutes per game as her minutes and responsibilities continued to grow within the Los Angeles rotation.
International and Off-Season Career
Burrell played the 2022–23 WNBL season with the UC Capitals in Australia, adding professional experience overseas during her rookie WNBA year. She then joined the Belgian side Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen for the winter 2023 portion of the calendar, continuing her international development.
In 2024, Burrell competed in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball season, a format that allowed her to log heavy minutes and refine her game during the WNBA off-season. On November 18, 2024, it was announced that she would appear in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, the women’s 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, where she plays for the Vinyl BC.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burrell’s game is built on her combination of size, length, and perimeter scoring. At 6 ft 2 in, she can play both shooting guard and small forward, using her frame to finish at the rim and create mismatches against smaller defenders. Her ability to stretch the floor and produce in spot-starter roles has made her a valuable rotational piece for the Sparks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the milestones of her career are her selection as the ninth overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, her first career double-double against Mississippi State, and her 22-point performances in NCAA Tournament play for Tennessee. Her signing of a multi-year deal with Los Angeles in 2024 and her inclusion in the inaugural Unrivaled season further highlight her rising professional profile.
Rae Burrell Career Wins
Rae Burrell’s verified career achievements center on her college honors and her steady progression through the professional ranks. While individual game-by-game win totals across her WNBA and international seasons are not fully documented, her selection in the first round of the WNBA Draft and her multi-year contract with the Sparks confirm her status as a winning contributor at every level.
WNBA Highlights
Burrell’s WNBA career began when the Los Angeles Sparks selected her ninth overall in the 2022 Draft. After a foot injury limited her rookie year, she returned on hardship deals in 2023 and played in 29 games. In 2024, she signed a multi-year contract and played in 37 games, starting the last seven contests of the season and averaging 15.6 minutes per game.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the WNBA, Burrell played a full season with the UC Capitals in Australia’s WNBL during 2022–23 and joined Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen in Belgium for winter 2023. She also competed in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball in 2024 and was announced as a participant in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, where she represents Vinyl BC.
Rae Burrell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public sources confirm that Rae Burrell was raised in the Henderson, Nevada, area and attended Liberty High School, where she built the foundation of her basketball career. Detailed information about her parents and broader family is not broadly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Burrell is known publicly through her basketball career and her presence on social media under the handle raehoops. Information about her marital status, spouse, and children is not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Burrell enters the 2025 season as a depth piece and developing rotation player for the Los Angeles Sparks, coming off a 2024 campaign in which she played in 37 games and started the final seven. Her continued presence on a multi-year contract signals that the organization views her as part of its long-term core.
In addition to her WNBA duties, Burrell is participating in the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled with the Vinyl BC, giving her a high-intensity 3-on-3 environment during the WNBA off-season. The combination of league play and Unrivaled is expected to accelerate her development and increase her visibility.
With increased minutes in 2024 and a stable role in Los Angeles, Burrell’s outlook for 2025 centers on expanding her offensive consistency and defensive impact. Her growing partnership with the Sparks’ coaching staff and her exposure in Unrivaled position her to take another step forward in her third WNBA season.
