Arella Guirantes

Arella Guirantes's Biography

Arella Karin Guirantes, born on October 15, 1997, is a renowned professional basketball player of Puerto Rican heritage that is currently playing for Diósgyőri VTK in the NB I/A. Versatile and extremely talented, Guirantes launched her professional career in the United States, having been drafted by the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Los Angeles Sparks, before lending her skills to the Seattle Storm.

During her high-school days at Bellport High School, Guirantes made a name for herself in the world of basketball. She not only scored over 2,000 points but was also selected to the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) All-State First Team. Her prowess extended to the IMG Academy, where she notably averaged 33 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game. Her remarkable potential and skill didn’t go unnoticed as she was ranked #44 player in the nation by ProspectNation and emerged as the #17 wing player in the 2016 class, according to Hoopgurlz.

Following her successful high school career, Guirantes committed to Texas Tech Lady Raiders, marking the beginning of her college basketball journey. While there, she brought newfound strength to the team, serving as their second-highest in scoring with an average of 9.9 points per game. She started in 27 out of 29 games and even earned the title of ‘Freshman of the Week’ for the Big 12.

After spending her freshman year at Tech, Guirantes decided to transfer to Rutgers. As per the NCAA transfer rules, she sat out the 2016–17 season. But upon her return, she marked her presence with an average of 12.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in her first playing season. Her performance earned her an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.

In her second season at Rutgers, Guirantes didn’t let her momentum falter, averaging 20.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. As a testament to her hard work, she was named to the AP, USBWA, and the WBCA All-American Honorable Mention Team. She was also recognized 1st Team All-Big Ten by both Coaches and Media. A milestone moment for Guirantes was when she joined the 1,000 Point Club during a match against Michigan State on January 20. In her final season at Rutgers, she further raised her game by averaging 20.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, leading her team to the 2021 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament.

In 2021, Guirantes was the 22nd pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA draft. She made the Sparks roster for the entire season, and despite it being her rookie season, she averaged 3.2 points per game. Following her performance at the 2022 training camp, Guirantes was waived by the Sparks. However, her journey did not end there.

In 2023, Guirantes signed a training camp contract with the Seattle Storm, marking a new chapter in her professional career. She successfully made the 2023 Opening Night roster and was a contributing member of the Storm team until the end of June. But on June 29, 2023, Guirantes was waived by the Storm team. Currently, she is lending her skills to Diósgyőri VTK, displaying her resilience and love for the game.