Key Takeaways
- Angel Reese expressed gratitude and optimism about returning to Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, despite now playing for the Atlanta Dream.
- She acknowledged the odd feeling of using the visitors’ locker room but emphasized that her time with the Chicago Sky remains a cherished part of her journey.
- Reese highlighted that the trade to Atlanta was mutually beneficial, allowing her to join a team that genuinely wanted her and to continue her growth.
- During the Dream’s shootaround, the team celebrated Rhyne Howard’s birthday with black T‑shirts featuring her face and sang both traditional and Stevie Wonder versions of “Happy Birthday.”
- Reese led the WNBA in rebounds per game in both of her seasons with the Sky, averaging 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds.
- The Sky traded her for two future first‑round picks after a strained relationship stemming from her public criticism of the roster and subsequent suspensions.
- Reese is working on expanding her game beyond interior play, practicing three‑point shots to fit Atlanta’s up‑tempo, perimeter‑oriented style under coach Karl Smesko.
- Both Reese and Howard stressed a mutual commitment to growth, with Howard noting the team’s effort to help Reese feel comfortable scoring and playmaking outside the paint.
Angel Reese stood along the baseline at Wintrust Arena during the Atlanta Dream’s Wednesday morning shootaround, a setting that felt both familiar and strangely new. Although she now wears a Dream jersey, the building that housed her for the first two years of her professional career still feels like a home base. “Coming back to a familiar place feels great,” Reese said, noting that she still considers Chicago a part of her story. She expressed happiness at being back in a city where she accomplished a lot, while also embracing the fresh start that Atlanta represents. The only discomfort she mentioned was the shift to the visitors’ locker room—a space she is not accustomed to after spending so much time in the Sky’s own facilities.
Reese’s gratitude for her time in Chicago was evident throughout her remarks. She reflected on the experiences she gained, the relationships she built, and the growth she underwent while with the Sky. Despite the eventual souring of her relationship with Chicago’s organization, she framed the trade as a positive turning point for both parties. “I think it was just best for me to move on, and I think it was helpful for both of us,” she said, emphasizing that there is no lingering animosity. Reese appreciates that the Sky placed her in a situation where she could land with a team that genuinely wanted her, and she is eager to turn the page and continue her career with optimism.
The trade itself came earlier this month after the Sky decided to move on from Reese following a period of tension. Reese had been publicly critical of the team’s roster composition late in the previous season, which contributed to a strained relationship. The organization responded by suspending her for a half, and she never returned to the court after September 3 due to a combination of injury and a league suspension for technical fouls. In exchange for her departure, Chicago received two future first‑round picks, a return that reflects the value they still placed on her talent despite the off‑court issues.
During the Dream’s shootaround, the team took a moment to celebrate the birthday of star guard Rhyne Howard. Players wore black T‑shirts emblazoned with Howard’s face, and the group sang both the traditional “Happy Birthday” and a Stevie Wonder‑infused version at the close of practice. This lighthearted gesture underscored the camaraderie within the Atlanta locker room and highlighted Howard’s role as a leader and a beloved teammate. Reese participated in the festivities, further signaling her integration into the squad.
On the court, Reese used the shootaround to work on an aspect of her game that she hopes to expand: her three‑point shooting. Known primarily for her dominant interior presence—she led the league in rebounds per game in both of her seasons with the Sky and averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds—Reese is now deliberately taking shots from beyond the arc. Dream coach Karl Smesko favors an up‑tempo offense that generates numerous three‑point attempts, and he wants Reese to be comfortable operating on the perimeter as well as in the paint. “We’re all pouring into her, and she’s pouring into us,” Howard said, noting that the team is committed to helping Reese develop her scoring versatility, playmaking, and ball‑screen setting while ensuring she feels confident in all facets of her game.
Reese’s outlook remains unequivocally positive. She described her daily attitude as showing “all 32 teeth every single day,” a metaphor for her relentless enthusiasm and determination. The move to Atlanta, she believes, offers an opportunity to grow, to contribute to a team that earnestly wants her, and to continue evolving as a player. While she acknowledges the oddity of shifting locker rooms, her overall sentiment is one of gratitude for her past, excitement for her present, and confidence in her future trajectory. The blend of reflective appreciation and forward‑looking drive encapsulates Reese’s approach as she embarks on this new chapter with the Atlanta Dream.