A competitive spirit. An undeniable love for the game. An enduring faith. A deep commitment to getting better and becoming the best version of herself. For Arella Guirantes, these are four things that have always remained at the forefront within her journey in basketball; and ones she oftentimes attributes her successes on and off the court to. Growing up in Long Island, New York, Arella remembers being captivated by the sport from an early age and quickly setting her eyes on the goal of one day playing basketball at the highest level. She was on a mission. Throughout middle school and high school, Arella continued to strengthen her skills on the court and grow her basketball IQ. It was during her time in college though—at Texas Tech and Rutgers University—where she became a true student of the game. Whether it was watching film, getting extra shots up before and after practice, or implementing body recovery routines, Arella used her competitive nature as fuel to elevate her game and build professional habits as a student-athlete. Little did she know, but the opportunity she had been working towards since a young age was right around the corner. With the 22nd pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, the Los Angeles Sparks selected Arella. She had done it. The goal she had set out to achieve of playing in the WNBA had been attained.
She hasn't looked back since. From playing for the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm to representing Puerto Rico in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and AmeriCup to playing overseas in Hungary and Ukraine, Arella has begun to build her legacy throughout this new phase of her basketball career. Even with these incredible milestones, her mindset of purposeful action and constant elevation remains intact. As she continues to write her story, Arella is excited for what's to come and hopes to continue inspiring others to be consistent in their goals, to be fearless in their dreams, and to embrace the ebbs and flows of life along the way. There is no limit to where she can take it; and if there is one thing she knows about chasing greatness is that she can't stop. Most importantly...SHE WON'T STOP!
Let's dive into your journey early on in college! You played a season at Texas Tech before transferring to Rutgers. Could you share more with us about your experiences at each institution?
I loved my freshman year so much—just being in a totally different culture shock. Texas was different for me. Growing up in New York and just moving more at a fast pace, and (then) going somewhere like Texas—where everything slowed down, everything is bigger, everything is further—, was definitely a different experience. I think it taught me a lot. Being in that type of environment, the Big 12, playing in that conference, I knew more going into my second year. I knew more details and main factors that I wanted to have during my college career. Choosing Rutgers was just a blessing for me because I got to play for a legendary head coach with Coach Stringer. (She) had a great program and a legendary program full of girls who are in the WNBA. We have a great lineage of girls, I got to learn from them and have more of a family feel back home—that was big for me to come back home and be able to play at Rutgers.
You had an incredible career at Rutgers—you scored over 1,000 points throughout your journey there, for instance. What did achieving these milestones mean to you?
They meant a lot because I got to do it with my family around. I don’t think my family missed a game. My dad and my mother would drive up to campus. You know, working me out while my dad had to go to work at 5:30 in the morning the next day—these are weekdays and he's still driving up to the school in New Jersey and working me out. I think that was special. Doing it and creating history with my dad, my family, my mom, and my nephews watching me…them getting to see that type of stuff was really cool. What made it so special too was my community. (They) got to tune in a lot too. I know a lot of people came to my senior night from my hometown, so that was just big because of the community feel that I got being at Rutgers.
Reflecting back on your collegiate career, how do you think your game elevated throughout your time in college to prepare you for the next level?
When you're a competitive individual, I think you just naturally want to be the best. You want to be the best on the floor whenever you step on (it); and me, I have always been like that. It drives me every day to bring it. As a professional athlete, you have to prove yourself every single day—even if you're already proven—because there's somebody who's just as hungry as you and wants it just as much as you. I think that's what just keeps me going, honestly. I'm grateful to have had that at a young age. A lot of people have to be taught that, and for me to just have it naturally and grow up in a competitive environment, I just love the push. I love being in competitive environments.
We have to talk about Draft Night! You were selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2021 WNBA Draft. What was that moment like of hearing your name being called and achieving your dreams of playing in the WNBA?