The Chicago Sky traded two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028, marking one of the most significant moves of the 2026 offseason. Atlanta will also receive 2028 second-round swap rights as part of the deal, while Chicago adds valuable future assets as it continues for a roster reset. Reese leaves Chicago after two record-setting seasons.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 draft quickly established herself as one of the league’s most dominant interior forces.
She defended her WNBA rebounding crown last season, averaging 12.6 rebounds per game, being the only player in league history to average at least 12 rebounds per game across multiple seasons.
Reese also led the Sky with 14.1 points per game, 2.7 assists per game and 23 double-doubles last year, finishing her Chicago tenure with 49 double-doubles.
For Atlanta, the acquisition signals a clear push to build on last season’s success. The Dream finished 30-14 in 2025, earning the league’s third-best record before falling in the first round of the playoffs.
Reese gives Atlanta an elite rebounder and physical presence to complement dynamic perimeter stars Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. Gray finished fourth in MVP voting last season and Howard already formed one of the league’s most explosive backcourts.
Reese’s ability to dominate the glass, generate second-chance opportunities and anchor interior defense addresses a key need for a team seeking deeper postseason success.
Reese’s arrival also enhances the Dream’s lineup. She can score inside, facilitate from the high post and elevate Atlanta’s transition game through defensive rebounds.
With her rookie contract running through 2026 and a team option in 2027, the Dream gained both immediate production and short-term cost control, valuable for maintaining roster balance around their core.
For Chicago, the trade reflects a strategic pivot. The Sky finished 10-34 last season and went 1-13 without Reese, making then miss the playoffs for the second year in a row.
While Reese did not request a trade, tensions surfaced last season following public comments about roster construction. The organization later described the move as an opportunity to achieve roster balance.
By acquiring two future first-round picks, Chicago now holds five first-round selections over the next three drafts.
These assets provide flexibility, whether through drafting young talent or packaging picks in future trades, as the franchise continues to shape its identity. Ultimately, the deal represents contrasting timelines.
Atlanta adds a proven All-Star to strengthen its championship aspirations in 2026, while Chicago prioritizes long-term rebuilding. As the new season approaches, both teams will be closely watched to see how this blockbuster trade reshapes the WNBA.
