The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream this offseason. The Sky made it clear to Reese that they would help her land on a team she wanted to go to.
Angel Reese didn't request a trade from the Chicago Sky this offseason. The WNBA star was prepared to return to Chicago as she was still under her rookie contract, but the two parties mutually decided to part ways this spring as the Sky began an overhaul of their roster, per Kendra Andrews of ESPN.
The Sky made it clear to Reese that they would help her land on a team she wanted to go to and the former LSU star got traded to the Atlanta Dream.
"Other teams were interested, but [Atlanta] is really where I wanted to end up," Reese said.
Reese averaged 14.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in two seasons with the Sky. Chicago went just 21-43 when Reese played.
A model off the court, Reese is one of the best -- if not the best -- rebounders in the WNBA. She put up 49 double-doubles in 64 games with the Sky, who now have five first-round picks over the next three seasons after the Reese trade.
Reese enters this season as a two-time rebounding champion. She's a career 42.1% shooter from the field, 18.4% shooter from beyond the arc and 74.6% shooter from the free-throw line.
"How could you not be happy here?" Reese told ESPN. "It just feels great. I always wanted to come to Atlanta. When you think of championship culture, playing next to these players, the coach [we have], it just made sense. ... I didn't care about anything else but being here."
The Dream are expected to be a title contender this season after trading for Reese. Along with Reese, Atlanta has Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Te-Hina Paopao and Brionna Jones.
Last season, the Dream went 30-14 but lost to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs, 2-1.
It will be intriguing to see how Atlanta does in 2026 with Reese in the fold.
"I mean, can't believe this is my life," Reese said during her first Dream media availability. "The paint is wide open, and I can drive [and] come down until somebody stops me. Everybody's on Lish and on Rhyne, staying with JC, so it opens up the floor ... it makes the job easier for me, where I don't have to always take the shot."
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