The Chicago Sky have traded two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese in exchange for the Atlanta Dream for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick, it was announced Monday.
The Dream will also receive a 2,028 second-round swap rights.
Reese, 23, defended her WNBA rebounding title last season, averaging 12.6 per game. She is the only player in WNBA history to average at least 12.0 rebounds per game in a single season, which she did in 2024 and 2025.
Reese also led the league in double-doubles (23) last season while also leading the Sky in scoring (14.7 points) and assists (3.7).
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said. “I’m focused on continuing to develop my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I have for the dream.”
In Atlanta, she will team up with dynamic goalkeepers Alisha Gray, who finished fourth in MVP voting last year, and Ryan Howard. The Dream Team finished last season with the WNBA’s third-best record (30-14) before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Indiana Fever.
“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “She has already established herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and desire to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”
Reese’s relationship with the Sky, who drafted him No. 7 in 2024, became strained last season after she publicly expressed concern about the team’s starting situation and suggested the team must land two great players this offseason or might consider moving on.
“I don’t settle for the same thing we did this year,” Reese told the Chicago Tribune in September. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. This is non-negotiable for me. I am ready and I want to play with the best.
“…I’d love to be here with my career, but if things don’t go well, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I’m here, I’m going to try to stay open about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”
The Sky deemed those comments “harmful to the team” and suspended her for the first half of their next game, but Rees did not play in the second half of that game or the next three games to end the season, with the Sky saying she was out with a back injury.
Reese later apologized to her teammates for the comments.
“This trade is designed to balance the roster and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliuca said in a statement. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking accomplishments in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are grateful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and know she will continue to make a significant impact on and off the court.”
“We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter.”
The Sky went 1-13 last season without Reese (10-34 overall) and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
The rookie contract for the 6-foot-3 Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 national championship, runs through 2026 with a team option for 2027.
Chicago now has five first-round picks over the next three seasons.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippo contributed to this report.
