It was no secret that the vibe between Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky was not great after a second losing season and Reese’s public criticism of the organization’s inability to put a winning team around her. But there was no public or obvious indication that either party was desperate to move one. Reese even said in December that she would stay in Chicago. So, the news that the Dream added Reese in exchange for two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 was somewhat of a surprise.
It turns out that this wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision from the Dream because Chicago made it clear that Reese was available. They had their eyes on her since the end of last season, as head coach Karl Smesko revealed in a press conference with GM Dan Padover on April 12.
“Angel, that was something at the end of last year Dan and I spoke about that we really thought would be a great addition for us if we could do something like that,” Smesko told reporters.
Karl Smesko has a great vision for Reese’s role on the team
Adding a star like Reese to a core that already has All-Stars and an MVP candidate can be a tricky balance, but the Dream seem set up perfectly to make it work. Stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are obviously excited about Reese’s addition to the team (they may even have had a hand in convincing her that Atlanta would be a great destination).
Most importantly, Smesko already has a very clear idea of how Reese will fit in on the court. He noted in the press conference that Reese’s skill set would only enhance everything his team did so well last season by providing extra possessions through her offensive rebounding and allowing the team to run with her ability to snatch defensive rebounds and bring the ball up the floor herself.
He also said that he would sit down with Reese to devise a plan for her development. Naz Hillmon went from being a non-shooter to sinking around 32% of her 3.8 attempts per game in just her first season under Smesko. If Reese can take a similar leap as a 3-point shooter, it would do wonders for her offensive skill set and her fit with Bri Jones.
Atlanta looks every bit like the contender it can be
Bringing Reese to Atlanta was one of the biggest moves of the offseason, but it shouldn’t overshadow everything else the Dream did. GM Dan Padover managed to re-sign Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Bri Jones, and added Isobel Borlase, who led the WNBL in scoring and won MVP in the 2025-26 season.
The Dream looked like a contender last season, but fell short in the playoffs. This season already promises much more postseason success, and the ability to retain talent while also not being afraid to take a big swing is a big reason why.