The decision to trade Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream will be tested for the first time Wednesday night, when the two teams meet in a preseason game in Chicago. While the Dream's final roster hasn't been set ahead of the game quite yet (or hasn't been publicly shared), it's likely Reese will see some serious time on the floor as she sets out on proving just why the Dream is a better fit.
And it certainly sounds like that feeling goes both ways. Per reporting from ESPN, Reese is the answer to a lot of questions Atlanta had heading into the 2026 season. The Dream are hoping to make the leap from a playoff team to a championship one this season, and Reese is being celebrated as the force that will push them over the edge.
Reese has also been effusive in praise for the Dream, her teammates, and Atlanta. "How could you not be happy here?" Reese told ESPN during training camp. "It just feels great. I always wanted to come to Atlanta. When you think of championship culture, playing next to these players, the coach [we have], it just made sense. ... I didn't care about anything else but being here."
Reese will join a starting lineup that includes Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, Brionna Jones, and Naz Hillmon. She was traded to Atlanta on the first day of free agency in exchange for two draft picks; the Sky have since put together their own formidable roster of WNBA veterans.
Angel Reese didn't hide that she wanted to leave Chicago
Reese was drafted by the Sky as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The team struggled to perform during her first season, and by year two she didn't seem to have a problem making it clear that she hoped another option would become available to her. That obviously was an appealing solution for both Reese and the Sky.
Now she'll soon have the opportunity to prove to everyone who's watching that the decision was the correct one — and that probably won't be too difficult to do. While the jump was a big deal for Reese and for both teams, she's known for her rebounding, defending, and her ability to run both sides of the court. What she's needed more than anything is the ability to get into the paint to let her skills shine, and the Dream excel at providing those opportunities.
Things are looking good — even great — for Reese. Now all she has to do is prove that they are.
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