Angel Reese has a brand new team in the WNBA, which gives her a brand new opportunity to have the kind of career she likely wants to have in the league. Reese, who was drafted as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, will play for the Atlanta Dream this season.
The differences between the two teams are pretty easy to map out, especially in terms of records. The Sky finished the 2025 season at the bottom of the league, and the Dream made a strong postseason showing before they were eliminated while in pursuit of a championship. Adding Reese, who is an elite rebounder, will only make the Dream more potent.
But the trade will also give Reese the opportunity to silence her detractors for good. Despite the fact that she's performed well in both the WNBA and in two seasons of Unrivaled, Reese is still dogged by claims that she offers little more than stat padding. Reese's skills are consistent and evident, and playing for a team — and a coach — who can actually support those skills will be a gamechanger for the young star.
Angel Reese is an elite rebounder
Reese was known for her rebounding skills while she was still in college at LSU, and that reputation quickly translated to the WNBA. As a rookie she averaged 13 rebounds per game and was ranked second in the league with 446 — just five short of the record set by A'ja Wilson.
Reese's 2025 season was also marked by impressive rebounding numbers. Last year she managed to beat out Wilson with 12.6 rebounds per game to the Aces' star's 10.2
But despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, Reese is still on the receiving end of criticsm and skepticism about her abilities as a professionl athlete. Playing for a team that is as well coached and supported as the Dream is will allow Reese the chance to definitively silence those who refuse to acknowledge her prowess on the court, and also sets the stage for a few feisty and explosive matches against other teams in the league (including, inevitably, with the Indiana Fever).
Though the Sky are coming out of this trade looking less than great, Reese appears to be marching toward a brighter and stronger future in the WNBA — and, hopefully, one that comes with a lot less negativity.