Angel Reese calm, confident in first game in Chicago since trade: Takeaways
Angel Reese played in Chicago on Wednesday evening for the first time since being traded to the Atlanta Dream on April 6 for two first-round draft picks. The two-time All-Star, once pegged as a franchise pillar, will now serve that role for the Dream alongside Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, Naz Hillmon and Jordin Canada, all of whom signed multiyear contracts this month. Attendance at Wintrust Arena was lackluster for the preseason game, but when Reese took the court in the Dream’s 87-78 win over the Sky, the ovation she received was a reflection of the fan favorite she was for two seasons in Chicago.
At the first timeout, the Sky played a tribute video that brought a number of fans to their feet. In two seasons with the Sky, Reese averaged 14. 1 points and 12.
9 rebounds. Against her former team, Reese looked poised and confident, finishing with 8 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists while playing fewer than 13 minutes. Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said pregame he intended to play his starters 15 to 20 minutes.
He ultimately kept four of his five starters — Reese, Gray, Howard and Canada — on the bench for the entire second half. Are the Dream title contenders? Reese’s addition to Atlanta’s roster has heightened contender conversations around the franchise.
The Dream are one of a few teams that have roster continuity after re-signing Howard, Jones, Hillmon and Canada, the core that led Atlanta to a third straight postseason appearance. The Dream, however, have never made it out of the first round during that run. Last year, they lost to a depleted Indiana Fever team.