The Chicago Sky have traded two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for first-round draft picks in 2027 and ’28, it was introduced Monday.
The Dream additionally will obtain 2028 second-round swap rights.
Reese, 23, defended her WNBA rebounding crown final season, averaging 12.6 per recreation. She is the one participant in WNBA historical past to common a minimum of 12.0 rebounds per recreation in a season, which she did in 2024 and 2025.
Reese additionally led the league in double-doubles (23) final season whereas pacing the Sky in scoring (14.7 factors) and assists (3.7).
“I am past grateful for the chance to affix the Atlanta Dream group,” Reese mentioned. “I am targeted on persevering with to develop my recreation, competing on the highest degree, connecting with the followers, and giving all the pieces I’ve received to the Dream.”
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Reese didn’t request a commerce, however the Sky labored carefully together with her staff to search out her a brand new dwelling, sources mentioned, including there was no contentiousness between the 2 events. The Sky have missed the playoffs the final two years and are anticipated to revamp the roster this offseason.
In Atlanta, Reese will staff up with dynamic guards Allisha Grey, who completed fourth in MVP voting final 12 months, and Rhyne Howard. The Dream completed final season with the WNBA’s third-best file (30-14) earlier than dropping within the first spherical of the playoffs to the Indiana Fever.
“Angel is a dynamic expertise and an ideal match for what we’re constructing in Atlanta,” Dream normal supervisor Dan Padover mentioned in an announcement. “She has already confirmed herself as some of the impactful gamers within the league, and her competitiveness, manufacturing and drive to win align seamlessly with our imaginative and prescient. That is an thrilling second for our group and our followers.”
Reese’s relationship with the Sky, which drafted her No. 7 in 2024, turned strained final season after she publicly expressed concern over the staff’s level guard state of affairs and indicated the staff has to get nice gamers this offseason or she would possibly think about shifting on.
“I am not settling for a similar s— we did this 12 months,” Reese advised the Chicago Tribune in September. “We’ve got to get good gamers. We’ve got to get nice gamers. That is a nonnegotiable for me. I am prepared and eager to play with the perfect.
“… I would wish to be right here for my profession, but when issues do not pan out, clearly I may need to maneuver in a special path and do what’s greatest for me. However whereas I’m right here, I will attempt to keep open-minded about what I’ve right here and maximize that as a lot as I can.”
The Sky deemed these feedback as “detrimental to the staff” and suspended her for the primary half of their subsequent recreation, however Reese did not play within the second half of that recreation or the next three video games to finish the season, with the Sky saying she was out due to a again damage.
Reese later apologized to her teammates for the feedback.
“This commerce is designed to realize roster stability and represents an ideal alternative for all events,” Sky normal supervisor Jeff Pagliocca mentioned in a launch. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years within the WNBA and has been a aggressive power for the Sky. We’re grateful for her many essential contributions to this league and this recreation, and we all know she’s going to proceed to have a big effect on the courtroom and past.
“We want Angel all the perfect in her subsequent chapter.”
The Sky went 1-13 final season with out Reese (10-34 total) and missed the playoffs for the second straight 12 months.
The rookie contract for the 6-foot-3 Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 nationwide championship, runs by way of 2026 with a staff choice for 2027.
Chicago now has 5 first-round picks over the following three seasons.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou contributed to this report.