It was a homecoming of sorts for Angel Reese on Wednesday night, but the box score didn't tell the story she wanted. In her first preseason game with the Atlanta Dream, the former Chicago Sky star struggled mightily, scoring just 8 points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.
The irony wasn't lost on anyone: Reese's debut with the Dream came against the very team that traded her away this offseason. The Sky dealt the All-Star forward to Atlanta in exchange for two first-round draft picks, a move general manager Jeff Pagliocca described as a chance to achieve "roster balance."
“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky,” Pagliocca said. “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.”
Reese, who averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game last season for Chicago, admitted she wanted more out of her career. “I’m always gonna be grateful for that because I did experience a lot of great things,” she said before the game. “I enjoyed being able to grow within my first two years, but I wanted more. I love to win, I love to compete and I wanted to be surrounded by people that can make me better.”
The Dream ultimately took care of business against the Sky, but Reese's individual performance left much to be desired. She was unable to find her rhythm, missing open looks and struggling at the charity stripe. It's a far cry from the dominant stretch she enjoyed last season, which included a social media jab at her ex-boyfriend during the playoffs that drew criticism.
Despite the rough start, Reese remains optimistic about her new surroundings. “I am not satisfied with what I am as a player, and I felt like being around these kinds of players would help me be better,” she said. “I can help them in different ways to help them win, and that’s all I ever wanted. I don’t care about anything else that comes with it. I want to win and being able to come to an organization that really cared about their players.”
The Dream will look to build chemistry between Reese, Alisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard as the regular season approaches. Reese has already shown she's willing to take risks, having dared the WNBA to fine her earlier this year. Now, she'll need to translate that fire into consistent production on the court.
Atlanta opens its 2026 regular season on May 10 against the Minnesota Lynx. If Wednesday's debut is any indication, Reese still has work to do to find her groove with her new team.
