Blockbuster trade sets the stage for actual Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry

When Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entered the WNBA, the league was eager to capitalize on the rivalry that had emerged between the two stars in college. The idea of a rivalry in the pros quickly fell flat because Clark went to an Indiana Fever team that also had Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull and quickly built a winning team around her, while Reese…well, Reese ended up with the Chicago Sky. 

Reese’s time with the Sky came to an abrupt end when news dropped that she had been traded to the Atlanta Dream. The Dream, unlike the Sky, were able to build a playoff team last season, and adding Reese to the core of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Bri Jones only makes the team better. 

So, with both Reese and Clark playing for competitive teams now, the league could try to revive the rivalry between the two young stars. Conveniently, Indiana is already scheduled to play Atlanta more than any team other than New York. The Fever’s schedule features three games against each team except for the Liberty and Dream. They will play each of those teams four times. 

Angel Reese should see her first playoff action this year

Reese has had her eyes on the playoffs since she came to the league. Playing for the Dream should allow her to realize that goal. Atlanta finished last season with a 30-14 record, which had them finish third behind the Lynx and Aces. They were surprisingly eliminated in the first round by a short-handed Fever team.

After that experience, the Dream should come back even better than last season. Karl Smesko won’t be a rookie head coach anymore, and Reese will add another All-Star-level player to the mix. 

The Dream’s front office still has to make a bunch of decisions before the start of the season, though. After the trade, the Dream have three players under contract: Reese, Te-Hina Paopao, and Taylor Thierry. They will undoubtedly re-sign restricted free agents Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillmon and core Allisha Gray. The real choices will be about Jordin Canada, Brittney Griner, and maybe Bri Jones. 

Jones was great for the Dream last season, but she tore her meniscus while playing in Europe. Canada and Griner may have to find a new team simply because of the restrictions of the new salary cap and how much Gray, Howard, and Hillmon alone will make.