Over the last two seasons, Angel Reese has quickly risen into one of the WNBA’s brightest stars, with much of that spotlight driven by her rivalry with fellow young star Caitlin Clark. Now, after spending two years with the Chicago Sky, she has a new team.
On Monday, the Sky announced that they had traded the two-time WNBA All-Star to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for a pair of first-round picks, one in 2027 and another in 2028. Atlanta will also pick up 2028 second-round swap rights as part of the deal.
Reese has dominated the glass since entering the league, leading the WNBA in rebounding in each of her first two seasons, including an average of 12.6 boards per game last year. She’s also the only player to average at least 12.0 rebounds in a season, accomplishing that feat in both 2024 and 2025. On top of that, she paced the league with 23 double-doubles last season.
While the Sky will undoubtedly miss Reese in the post, things had gotten a bit tumultuous between the two-time All-Star and the team.
During the season, Reese was not shy in criticizing the team and indicated that she could choose to move on from the team if the Sky were not willing to upgrade their roster.
“I’m not settling for the same [stuff] we did this year,” Reese told the Chicago Tribune in September. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a nonnegotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best.
“I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously, I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” Reese said at the time. “But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”
The Sky were not happy about Reese’s comments at the time and suspended her for half a game for conduct “detrimental to the team.” Although Reese didn’t formally ask out of Chicago, ESPN reports that both sides collaborated to identify a suitable trade destination, with “no contentiousness between the two parties.”
Following the trade, Reese broke her silence on social media as she expressed her excitement at the new opportunity.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in a statement via ESPN. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”
We’ll have to see how Reese performs with her new team.
About Dave Kelsey
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