Angel Reese has only just been traded to the Atlanta Dream, but she's already proving that having her on the squad will pay off — literally — for the team. On Thursday StubHub revealed that the Dream have seen a 15% increase in ticket sales since the news was announced earlier this week. The ticket selling platform also noted this was the largest single-day spike in the team's history.
The news is of little surprise to Reese's fans and supporters, who have always made a point of showing up to support her on and off the court. But it's welcome news for the Dream, who still play most of their games at the Gateway Center in College Park, just outside the city. The venue has a capacity of 5,000 — a far cry from the State Farm Arena, which can hold at least 16,000 fans.
The Dream is already planning to play five games at State Farm this season, news the team announced in late March. Those matches are the team's home opener against the Las Vegas Aces on May 17, a June 20 game against the Indiana Fever, a June 22 game against the Toronto Tempo, a second game against the Fever on August 19, and the team's final home game against the Chicago Sky on September 19.
Reese has had an impact on more than ticket sales. Also on Thursday several outlets noted her Dream jersey has already sold out online. The organization is working to restock the jersey, but there's no official update — yet — on when it will be available again.
The Dream's Angel Reese trade could ramp up a rivalry
The move to Atlanta may also push the simmering Atlanta Dream-Indiana Fever rivalry out into the open this season. The teams had an explosive series of matches in pursuit of the WNBA semifinals, with Indiana ultimately coming out on top. Reese and the Fever's Caitlin Clark have been the subject of plenty of speculation about a rivalry of their own, something both athletes have consistently denied.
There's every reason to expect that the two teams could even get a chance at a rematch during the postseason this year. The Dream put in a powerful performance in 2025 and ended the season ranked as the No. 3 team, while the Fever came into the playoffs series ranked No. 6. Both teams surprised the league and fans with what they were able to accomplish last season, and both should be even stronger this year.