The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday. Two first-round picks — 2027 and 2028 — plus a 2028 second-round swap go back to Chicago. Reese goes to a 30-win team. The Sky goes back to the drawing board.
(Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
Reese posted photos of herself in a Dream uniform within hours of the news breaking, captioning it “An Angel’s DREAM.”
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”
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How It Got Here
Reese watched a franchise crumble around her for two seasons. Two coaches. Back-to-back lottery records. A front office she’d stopped believing in. By September, she said so publicly.
“I’m not settling for the same s*** we did this year,” Reese told the Chicago Tribune. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”
Chicago suspended her for half a game. She never played for the Sky again, sitting out the rest of that Aces game and the final two contests of the season with a back injury.
Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca put out a statement Monday.
“This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” Pagliocca said in a press release. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond. We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter.”
Chicago’s next chapter runs through Kamilla Cardoso. The 24-year-old averaged 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season and is now the clear centerpiece of whatever the Sky are rebuilding toward. They hold five first-round picks over the next three drafts, including No. 5 in 2026, where UCLA’s Kiki Rice and LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson could be options.
Atlanta Wins This Trade
Reese is just 23 years old. She is the only player in WNBA history to average 12.0 rebounds per game in a season — and she’s done it twice. Last year, she put up 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game and led the league in double-doubles with 23.
Dan Padover, Atlanta’s general manager, said what everyone in the building was thinking.
“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Padover said. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production, and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”
Head coach Karl Smesko won a franchise-best 30 games in his first season running the Dream. He didn’t need much convincing.
“Angel’s ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is elite,” Smesko said. “Her energy, toughness, and instincts will thrive in our system, and we’re excited to integrate her into the style of play we are constructing here in Atlanta.”
Reese joins All-Star guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard on a team that already knocked on the door last season before falling to Indiana in the first round. She’s the frontcourt piece they didn’t have.
Chicago Got Outplayed
Two mid-lottery picks from a playoff team is not a fair return for a 23-year-old two-time All-Star.
The Sky went 23-61 over the last two seasons. Cardoso is the only young piece worth building around. Those Atlanta picks — barring a Dream collapse — land in the mid-teens. Chicago isn’t a free-agent destination, and the haul from this deal doesn’t move the needle on a timeline that’s already years away.
It’s worth remembering what Chicago gave up just to get Reese in the door. The Sky burned a 2026 first-round-pick swap to move up to No. 7 in the 2024 draft. Minnesota now holds that pick at No. 2 overall. The franchise spent lottery-level capital, went 23-61 with her, and walked away with futures that may never come close to her value.
This franchise has been here before. The list of stars who came to Chicago and eventually forced their way out runs long — and the exits rarely end cleanly. Reese’s departure fits a pattern that ownership has never truly addressed.
Where Things Stand
Atlanta is a winner here. Reese lands on a contender with a proven coach and real pieces around her, and the Dream have a genuine shot at making noise this season.
Chicago has Cardoso, five first-rounders, and a front office that still has a lot to prove.
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