In a blockbuster move, the Chicago Sky have traded Angel Reese, one of the most popular players in the WNBA, to the Atlanta Dream for a pair of first-round draft picks.
Reese, 23, played her first two seasons with the Sky, averaging 14.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game as she set a host of WNBA records, including the single-season rebounding record in her rookie year.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said, according to 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.”
Though Reese made a clear impact on the court for the Sky, she also clashed with the team’s front office during her second season when she expressed frustration with the team’s roster during an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
“I’m not settling for the same s*** we did this year,” Reese said in a September 2025 interview. “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.”
She added, “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. 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 team suspended Reese for half a game for her comments and she later apologized to the team.
Now, Reese goes from a team at the bottom of the WNBA in the Sky to a Dream organization that finished tied for second in the league last year. She will pair with guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard to create a contender for Atlanta’s first-ever WNBA championship.
“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.”
Sky GM Jef Pagliocca wished Reese well in a statement of his own, saying the reason for the trade was “roster balance” and “a great opportunity for all parties.”
“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky,” he said. “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.”
