Angel Reese’s Trade To The Atlanta Dream Is Best For All: Here’s Why
· Yahoo Sports
Angel Reese’s trade to the Atlanta Dream from the Chicago Sky made huge waves this past week. The two-time WNBA All-Star was traded for draft capital in 2027 and 2028. However, at least to me, the writing has been on the wall for this moment for at least a year now.
The Chicago Sky fired WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon after her first season as their head coach. Her first season was the 2024-25 campaign, which also coincided with the rookie season of the “Bayou Baddie.” The two took to each other, and I could see great potential for Reese being coached up by “T-Spoon.” The Sky had other ideas after a dismal first season together that touted a 10-34 record. But for a team in rebuild mode, this was to be expected.
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A promising beginning for Angel Reese
As we entered the second season for Reese, Weatherspoon was dismissed in the off-season, which, to me, was a slap in the WNBA newcomer’s face. As far as I’m concerned, Weatherspoon was installing a culture in Chicago. She was cultivating a gritty identity for the squad, which included Reese’s voracious rebounding and energy. But the team’s brass letting Weatherspoon go after one season, I believe, fractured Reese’s trust in the Sky long-term.
With this trade taking place going into Reese’s third season, she gets traded not only to a talented Atlanta Dream team, but to a city that’s ready to welcome her. Atlanta loves its Black people and Black stars. With Reese’s likeness soaring for brands like Reese’s and Victoria’s Secret, her fanbase can grow even more in a city like Atlanta.
With the wealth of talent around her, her role can be even more defined. As Reese continues to broaden her offensive repertoire, she’ll also be able to offload much of those responsibilities at times, too. But her rebounding will be so key and featured that I think it can only help grow her confidence even more as a player.
Hindsight is looking very 20/20
The beauty in this trade, as far as I can see it, is that it just feels like Reese has a home now. It felt that way initially in Chicago when she had a figure like T-Spoon, whom she’d run through a wall for. Last season in Chicago felt more like purgatory. What would be the next shoe to drop? It turned out to be a respectful parting of ways that allows Reese to truly realize all of her potential with a team that accepts her for who she is on and off the floor.
Make no mistake, there’s so much to be excited about heading into this WNBA season. There are two new teams. The ladies are going to see substantial raises. They have a new collective bargaining agreement that includes equity for the players. And now we get to see Reese in her third season in a healthy team environment, going out and really seeing what she’s made of against the league’s best.
The Sky can start from scratch and hopefully learn from their past woes. But the “W” continues to look as healthy as ever, and you don’t just have to take my word for it.
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