Over the past two seasons, Angel Reese has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, fueled in large part by her rivalry with fellow superstar Caitlin Clark. After two seasons with the Chicago Sky, Reese is now on the move.
On Monday, the Chicago Sky announced that they had traded the two-time WNBA All-Star to the Atlanta Dream in return for two first-round picks: a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick. The Dream will also receive 2028 second-round swap rights.
Reese has been the top rebounder in the league each of her first two seasons in the league, averaging 12.6 per game last season. She is the only player in WNBA history to average at least 12.0 rebounds per game in a season, doing it in both 2024 and 2025. She also led the league in double-doubles last season with 23.
“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.”
While Reese did not request a trade from the Sky, ESPN reports that Reese and the Sky worked together to find a trade partner, and there is “no contentiousness between the two parties.” That said, Reese had previously 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 these comments at the time, suspending Reese half a game for conduct “detrimental to the team.” Ultimately, it seems like a trade was in the best interest of the Sky as they look to rebuild, and Reese as she looks to compete for championships.
“This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a release. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.
“We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter.”
And it sounds like the Dream is excited to have her.
“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”
We’ll have to see how things pan out for Reese at her next stop.
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