The two worlds of Kysre Gondrezick: A fashion model looking for another WNBA chance



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Kysre Gondrezick had two careers to fall back on after being waived by the Chicago Sky in June.

The free-agent guard is juggling fashion jobs and acting while staying on top of her training for a potential pathway back to the WNBA — or the new Unrivaled League.

“I am all over the place right now,” Gondrezick, 27, told The Post while discussing her partnership with Smirnoff Smash Vodka Soda. “I’m in acting classes, acting training. I’m getting ready to shoot some film work for 2025.

“It’s been a heck of a year. It is funny, someone said, ‘You have trended more since you’ve been cut and since you were in the league — and you were trending so much in the league.’ I’m just living in the beauty of my purpose.”

Kysre Gondrezick attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse on October 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. Getty Images

Gondrezick’s tunnel fits, including sultry suits and power blazers, took the league by storm — and helped build her a strong following off of the court.

Brands such as Victoria’s Secret, among others, were hooked.

One week after she was cut, Gondrezick attended the Celtics championship parade with her boyfriend, Boston guard Jaylen Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP — on June 21.

The next month, they made their red carpet debut at the 2024 ESPY Awards in July — and then celebrated her birthday together in August, followed by a trip to Dubai, as seen in photos online.

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Gondrezick attended New York Fashion Week in September and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City last month.

Kysre Gondrezick playing for the Sky in the preseason. NBAE via Getty Images

The couple attended the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion show on Sept. 8.

“So it’s been an amazing year, honestly,” she said, smiling. “And I think that the kickstart started with me being back in the league. That was the ultimate goal was to get back in the W. Obviously it didn’t pan out the way that I anticipated into the completion of a season, but I don’t question God.

“… I’m just excited to see the outcome of what my journey is going to be with the W, because I don’t think that I’m done anytime soon. I don’t want to say that that was an ending. I want to say it was more so a transition.”

Gondrezick was selected out of West Virginia University with the No. 4 overall pick by the Fever in the 2021 WNBA draft. She recorded 36 points across 19 games that season with Indiana.

In 2022, she spent training camp with the Sky.

Kysre Gondrezick and Jaylen Brown are seen arriving to Tommy Hilfiger Fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2024 in New York City. GC Images

Chicago signed Gondrezick to a training camp contract in February and it was later converted to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal.

Sky star Angel Reese, who is one of Gondrezick’s best friends, supported her after her departure.

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“Nothing’s off the table for me,” Gondrezick said when asked about Unrivaled, the new 3×3 league founded by the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Lynx’s Napheesa Collier.

“I’m just trying to take one day at a time honestly, and doing my part and staying ready so that I don’t have to get ready. Obviously that has also been a conversation as well. I have my team, my agents already connecting with coaches, general managers, just wanting to know my regimen.”

Kysre Gondrezick wears pink cropped blazer, mini skirt with slit outside Area during New York Fashion Week on September 6, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images

Unrivaled held its first draft Wednesday, and while Gondrezick wasn’t selected, two wild-card spots remain open among the rosters of the six-team league.

Until a team calls, Gondrezick is making a name for herself outside of the game.

Gondrezick, who is native of Benton Harbor, Mich., said she’ll soon be announcing “a huge project” among other things she’s been working on.

Kysre Gondrezick playing for the Fever in 2021. NBAE via Getty Images

But she is a hooper at heart.

“It’s exciting, but I’ve been training really hard with basketball workouts,” said Gondrezick, who played in a pickleball tournament at SPF Chicago in partnership with Smirnoff Smash last Wednesday.

“It’s my goal to get back in the league for next season. I think that I’m very grateful that basketball has been a mechanism for me to be able to transition into other fields, but [the game] is my true love.

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Angel Reese and Kysre Gondrezick attend the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret

“[Basketball] is my first love, and I take this again very seriously and I owe it to myself to complete it in its entirety before I look at other career fields longevity wise.”

Gondrezick is being patient about the next chapter in her journey

“It’s God’s plan, his timing, and I’m just walking in the direction of the steps that he has ordered for me,” she said.



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