Angel Reese is headed to Atlanta — and she couldn’t be happier about it. On April 6, 2026, the Chicago Sky traded the 23-year-old two-time WNBA All-Star to the Atlanta Dream for two first-round picks. Within minutes of the deal breaking, Reese was already on social media in her new uniform. Her caption said it all: “An Angel’s DREAM”
- Atlanta Dream gets: Angel Reese + 2028 second-round swap rights
- Chicago Sky gets: 2027 first-round pick + 2028 first-round pick
- Reese age: 23 years old (born May 6, 2002)
- Reese height: 6’3″
- Career stats: 14.1 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 2.7 APG — 2x WNBA All-Star
The Trade That Shocked the WNBA
Nobody expected this on Easter Sunday morning. Taylor Rooks of NBA on Prime broke the news first. Reese confirmed it herself on X minutes later with her now-viral post — new uniform, big smile, three words: “An Angel’s DREAM.”
For two seasons in Chicago, Reese was the best player on one of the worst teams in the league. The Sky went 10-34 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Without Reese, they were 1-13. She led the WNBA in rebounding both seasons — the only player in league history to average 12.0+ boards per game in back-to-back years. She earned MVP votes as a rookie. None of it was enough to make Chicago competitive.
Now she gets a real shot.
Angel Reese and Brittney Griner: The Dream Duo Atlanta Has Been Waiting For
This is the angle everyone is talking about.
Brittney Griner — 6’9″, two-time WNBA champion, one of the most dominant centers the league has ever seen — is already on the Atlanta Dream roster. Add a 6’3″ rebounding machine who averaged nearly 13 boards a game last season, and Atlanta suddenly has a frontcourt that no team in the Eastern Conference can match physically.
Griner brings championship experience and interior scoring. Reese brings relentless energy, elite rebounding, and the kind of motor that changes a game’s momentum. Together, they give Dream head coach Karl Smesko something he didn’t have last season — a true anchor in the paint on both ends.
The Dream already had All-Star wing Allisha Gray (fourth in MVP voting in 2025) and scorer Rhyne Howard in the backcourt. This roster is now built to make a deep playoff run — not just survive the first round.
Dream GM Dan Padover put it plainly in a Monday statement: “Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta. Her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision.”
Why the Chicago Sky Let Her Go
The relationship between Reese and Chicago had been fraying since September 2025. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe, Reese was blunt about her frustrations: “I’m not settling for the same stuff we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.”
The Sky suspended her for the first half of a September 7 game against Las Vegas, calling her comments “detrimental to the team.” She sat out the final three games of the season with a back injury. She apologized to her teammates publicly. GM Jeff Pagliocca said after the season he expected her back in 2026 — “until I hear differently.”
He heard differently.
For Chicago, the math made sense on paper. They now hold five first-round picks across the next three draft cycles. That’s a full rebuild with real ammunition. Whether Pagliocca can convert those picks into wins is the question Sky fans will be asking for the next two years.
What This Means for the Atlanta Dream in 2026
Atlanta went 30-10 in 2025 — a franchise record. They improved from last in offensive rating to second in the league under Smesko’s system. A first-round playoff exit against the Indiana Fever stung. This trade is the answer to that.
Reese is under contract through 2026 with a team option for 2027. At 23 years old, she’s entering what should be the peak years of her career. Smesko said Monday: “Her energy, toughness and instincts will thrive in our system. We’re excited to integrate her into the style of play we are constructing here in Atlanta.”
The Dream open the 2026 WNBA season on May 17 at home against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena. Safe to say that game just got a lot more interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Angel Reese playing in 2026?
Angel Reese is playing for the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA season. She was traded from the Chicago Sky on April 6, 2026 in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
What is Angel Reese’s salary in 2026?
Angel Reese’s 2026 salary is $82,399 under her rookie contract — one of the best value deals in the league given her All-Star production. The Atlanta Dream also hold a team option for 2027 worth $93,636.
Does Brittney Griner play for the Atlanta Dream?
Yes. Brittney Griner has been with the Atlanta Dream since 2023. With the addition of Angel Reese, Atlanta now has two of the most physically dominant frontcourt players in the WNBA on the same roster.
What did Chicago Sky get for Angel Reese?
The Sky received the Atlanta Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, plus second-round swap rights in 2028. Chicago now holds five first-round picks over the next three WNBA drafts.
How tall is Angel Reese and how old is she?
Angel Reese is 6 feet 3 inches tall and 23 years old, born May 6, 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was selected No. 7 overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
