The Chicago Sky sent shockwaves through the WNBA when they traded two-time All-Star guard and franchise player Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.
Reese had been critical of the Sky and their lack of success last season, which seemingly rubbed many of her teammates the wrong way.
“I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese told the Chicago Tribune back in September. “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.”
Reese’s harsh remarks was just the beginning of months of speculation that ended in her being shipped off to the Atlanta Dream earlier this week.
Reese’s Presence Already Causing a Stir in Atlanta
GettyAngel Reese is already making a big impact with the Atlanta Dream
Though the Sky clearly wanted to move on from Reese and the distraction she became to the franchise, the Dream welcomed her with open arms.
Landing a superstar player who likely has yet to reach her prime is a big win for the Dream, who are already starting to experience the kind of affect Reese can have on an organization.
“Atlanta Dream ticket demand spiked 15x after trading for Angel Reese, the largest single day spike in franchise history,” StubHub announced on Thursday. “The Angel Reese Effect is real. 🔥.”
In addition to the massive increased demand for tickets, the average ticket price for Atlanta’s home opener he Minnesota Lynx on May 10 has surged from $173 to $255, and average ticket prices across the season doubled from $38 to $68, according to TickPix.
Reese is Happy to Be Out of Chicago
GettyAngel Reese seems to be upbeat after getting traded by the Chicago Sky
It was clear that things had turned toxic in Chicago.
There was obvious tension between Reese and her teammates, and many had begun to speculate that the two-time WNBA rebounding champ just wasn’t a fit with the Sky.
“It’s not easy to go be by yourself in the dark and those lonely nights and those long nights thinking by yourself,” Reese told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Social media has it out there to be one way. But at the end of the day, you gotta sit with yourself and tell yourself what you want in life and continue to put yourself in spaces and rooms [that] feel super uncomfortable.”
This also isn’t the first time Reese has switched teams during her career.
She started her college career at the University of Maryland, where she spent two seasons before transferring to LSU. It was in Baton Rouge that Reese won a national championship and solidified herself as one of the top players in the 2024 WNBA draft.
“Transferring from Maryland and going to LSU and winning a championship, it feels like deja vu right now,” Reese added. “And I get chills right now because being a part of Chicago my first two years and going to Atlanta, I just feel that urge right now that I’m going to win again.”
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