One of the best things about Angel Reese's trade from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream is that it drop planted the third-year WNBA player into a team that's filled with talented veterans who already have established roles on the team. That's not meant to be a dig at the Sky, as the team pulled off a series of free agency trades that brought major league heavyweights to Chicago, but the Dream's roster can give Reese something she wasn't able to access her first two seasons in the league.
So far, Reese is also meeting or exceeding the assumed expectations the Dream have had for her. She's averaging 12.3 points and 10.8 rebounds (as well as 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals) per game — pretty much exactly what the Dream needs her to do. She's a double-double hero (which isn't easy to pull off) who can be counted upon to grab an offensive board and who has recently been moving from the post to the wing to create better spacing for the team, which is a savvy shift. She's been praised for her energy and spirit, is clearly settling in with the team wonderfully, and remains one of the most talented rebounders of all time.
So... why is there so much urgency about how quickly she develops her midrange or three-point shooting?
The Atlanta Dream will develop Angel Reese's shooting sometime
The Dream lost Brittney Griner ahead of the 2026 season, something they likely knew was coming. Griner signed with the Connecticut Sun, who will reform as the newly-revived Houston Comets for the 2027 season. She's from Texas, and has repeatedly expressed a desire for her family in the state to be able to more easily see her play.
Without Griner, the Dream knew they needed a player with some defensive prowess, somthing they're getting with Reese. And there are also plenty of signs that Reese is working with head coach Karl Smesko on her shooting (the pair were spotted ahead of the team's game against the Minnesota Lynx Wednesday and appeared to be working on her shot form), but that doesn't mean he's in any rush to do so — nor does it mean it will take Reese a long time to improve the mechanics of her shot.
But there's also no real reason for Reese to be pressured to significantly improve the skill until she's ready to do so. They say slow and steady wins the race, and in this case, it's better for Reese and the Dream if she takes her time and nails her shot, as opposed to rushing the process and ending up missing the mark.
The goal for Reese, and probably all players in the WNBA, is a long, successful career. There is no doubt she will go down as one of — if not the — most prolific rebounders and versatile contributors in WNBA history. In fact, she's well on her way to being that person now. When it comes to shooting, Reese will get there — and, for now, Dream fans get the luxury of enjoying that process each step of the way.
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