The Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese Trade Is Already Paying Off — Here’s Why
Angel Reese’s impact in Atlanta is already showing. Here’s why ESPN labeled the Dream star one of the WNBA’s best offseason moves.
We’re not even two weeks into the 2026 WNBA season, and the Angel Reese trade already looks like it has paid off. When the Atlanta Dream acquired Reese from the Chicago Sky in April for two future first-round picks, the move was met with both excitement and uncertainty. Reese’s relationship with Chicago had been under the microscope for months after public comments about wanting a more competitive roster and growing questions about the franchise’s direction following a brutal 10-34 season.
Reports around the league suggested tension had been building long before the deal became official. Now, ESPN ‘s Kareem Copeland is giving Atlanta early validation. In his ranking of the WNBA’s 10 best offseason additions , Copeland slotted Reese at No.
5, arguing her impact stretches beyond raw scoring. “The Dream are 2-1 and Reese’s impact is being felt even more on the defensive end,” Copeland wrote. “The Dream lead the league with 45.
0 rebounds per game, 6. 5 more than No. 2 Washington.