Angel Reese has become one of the best players in the WNBA during her two seasons with the Chicago Sky. The former LSU Tigers forward has averaged a double-double of 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds through her young career, along with 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Reese has also earned back-to-back All-Star nods, along with a spot on Team USA for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament.
But the 2025 season did not go as planned for the Sky under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh, as the team finished with a 10-34 record and missed the playoffs once again. Following the season, Reese expressed her frustration, saying she is “not settling for the same (expletive) we did this year,” while hoping to see more stars come to Chicago.
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Sure enough, on Monday, the Sky decided it was time for a major change just ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, trading Reese to the Atlanta Dream. Along with Reese, the Dream will be receiving the right to swap second-round picks in the 2028 WNBA Draft, while Chicago acquired Atlanta's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks. And the trade quickly grabbed the attention of a WNBA great.
Lisa Leslie has cemented herself in the conversation as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time following her impressive career with the Los Angeles Sparks. From 1997 to 2009, she helped lead the Sparks to two WNBA championships while earning three MVP awards and 12 All-WNBA selections. Leslie also starred for Team USA, winning four Olympic gold medals.
Following the Sky-Dream trade, Leslie commented on Reese’s reaction to the deal, giving the new Atlanta star a new nickname, one that is quite fitting.
"ATL Peach Barbie 🍑 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥," Leslie wrote to Reese on Instagram.
Reese will open her first season with the Dream on May 10, hitting the road to face Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx.
