The Chicago Sky have traded star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, the teams announced Monday.
The trade is the first blockbuster move of the WNBA offseason, which is operating on a condensed timeline after months of negotiations between the league and its players over a new collective bargaining agreement finished last month.
Reese, 23, was a two-time All-Star with the Sky, who selected her with the No 7 pick in the 2024 draft after a standout college career at Maryland and LSU. Reese’s rivalry with fellow rookie Caitlin Clark became one of the major storylines of that season, which set records in viewership and attendance.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in a statement Monday. “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.”
The 6ft 3in Reese led the WNBA in rebounds per game for the past two seasons, averaging a league-record 13.1 as a rookie and 12.6 in 2025. She also led the league in double-doubles (23) last season while leading the Sky with 14.7 points per game and 3.7 assists per game. She became the fastest player in league history to record 500 points and 500 rebounds.
Reese’s relationship with the Sky became strained as the team fell out of playoff contention for the second year in a row. In September, she told the Chicago Tribune that Chicago “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if they didn’t improve their outlook. She called on coach Tyler Marsh to coach players harder and said she didn’t think the roster was strong enough to compete for championships.
The Sky suspended Reese for a half of a game, saying her comments were “detrimental to the team”. She later apologized to her teammates and said the remarks were taken out of context.
“This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a release. “We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.”
Chicago received a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2028 second-round pick in the trade. Atlanta, who went 30-14 and lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, received swap rights to a second-round pick in the 2028 draft.
League owners ratified the CBA on 24 March. The free agency period is under way, with more than 100 players on the market. They will benefit from the new CBA, which sets this season’s salary cap at about $7m, an increase of $5.5m from last year. Average salaries will be about $600,000, with a $300,000 minimum, and salaries for top players on “supermax” contracts will reach above $1m.
The two new expansion teams, the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo, held their drafts last week. Teams can make qualifying offers and designate core players on Monday and Tuesday. Negotiations can take place from Wednesday to Friday, and contracts can be executed starting Saturday. The college draft is 13 April.
Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson has already said she will be re-signing with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, while Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart plan to stay with the New York Liberty. Clark’s contract did not expire at the end of the 2025 season, so she remains with the Indiana Fever. Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell and Allisha Gray are among the other top free agents to watch.
Training camp opens 19 April and the season begins 8 May.
