The Atlanta Dream suffered a very close 85-84 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces at home Sunday. The game offered a glimpse into key areas of the team's development, and especially into the development of newcomers Angel Reese and Madina Okot.
While Reese is in her third season in the WNBA, it's her first with the Dream. Reese, who has been something of a divisive player for portions of the WNBA fandom, has something to prove this year. She departed Chicago after making comments last season that made it clear she was unhappy with the Sky, and she received a big welcome after making the move to Atlanta.
Her first two regular season performances for the Dream were strong; Sunday's game is the first in which she appeared to struggle. Reese clocked nine points and eight rebounds, which is awfully close to her characteristic double-double, but also added on eight turnovers. Her defensive game remains impressive, her rebounding is elite, but her offensive strategies and skills may need work — and that's something she can focus on in the offseason while offering the Dream her skills as a valuable and necessary role player this season.
Okot was selected as the No. 13 overall pick by the Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft, but didn't get to play her first game for the team until Sunday. While Reese and Naz Hillmon struggled, Okot helped deflect some of the burden on the team's frountcourt by racking up 14 points and 11 rebounds in only 16 minutes on the floor.
That's a hint at the promise Okot brings to the team, and it's all the more impressive since she only began playing basketball six years ago (she previously played volleyball before trading sports). The 6'6" center grew up in Kenya and spent a season playing for Mississippi State before she transferred to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley. She's the third Kenyan to play in the WNBA, and the highest-drafted Kenyan in league history.
If Okot was nervous during her Dream debut, she didn't show it. That's not too surprising considering she's the same player who managed to earn All-SEC second-team honors despite only playing for Staley for one season. Okot is tough, and she'll bring that same energy to the Dream this year.
As for Reese, the young rebounding superstar has plenty of time to figure out what her path is this season. One thing is for sure: the Dream are in win-now mode, and they'll need everyone on the team to follow suit.
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