angel reese is headed to the Atlanta Dream after the Chicago Sky completed the first blockbuster trade of the WNBA offseason on Monday, ending a strained stretch between the team and its two-time All-Star forward. The move comes as free agency opens under a condensed league calendar following the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement on 24 March ET. Chicago made the deal with Atlanta for future draft assets, while Reese immediately framed the move as a fresh start.
What Chicago sent and what Atlanta got
The Sky received a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Atlanta also received swap rights to a second-round pick in the 2028 draft, making the transaction one of the most significant early moves of the offseason.
Reese, 23, was selected by Chicago with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft after a standout college career at Maryland and LSU. She led the WNBA in rebounds per game over the past two seasons, including a league-record 13. 1 as a rookie and 12. 6 in 2025, while also leading the league in double-doubles last season with 23.
angel reese and the Sky relationship had already frayed
The trade follows a public and increasingly tense relationship between angel reese and the Sky after the team missed the playoffs for a second straight season. In September, Reese said Chicago “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the outlook did not improve, and she urged coach Tyler Marsh to coach players harder.
The Sky suspended her for half of a game, saying her remarks were “detrimental to the team. ” Reese later apologized to teammates and said the comments had been taken out of context. Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said the trade was intended to “achieve roster balance” and called it “a great opportunity for all parties. ”
Immediate reaction from Reese and the teams
Reese welcomed the move released Monday. “I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization, ” angel reese said. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream. ”
Chicago said it was thankful for her impact on the team and on the league. The Dream, who went 30-14 and lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, now add a player who has already been one of the league’s most visible figures.
Why this matters now
The trade landed as the WNBA entered a busy stretch, with more than 100 players on the market and teams moving through qualifying offers, core designations, and negotiation windows. The league’s new CBA sets this season’s salary cap at about $7 million ET, with average salaries around $600, 000 and a minimum of $300, 000.
It also comes after the league’s expansion teams held their drafts last week, adding more movement to an already compressed offseason. Angel Reese now shifts to Atlanta with the Dream preparing for a fresh round of roster decisions, and the first major story of this offseason is already set.
