Angel Reese was supposed to be the crown jewel of the rebuild in Chicago. But after two years of living at the bottom of the table and a well-publicized internal conflict, Reese and the Sky separated. The Sky traded their superstar for two first-round picks and considered her preferences while making this trade. Reportedly, they spurned many better offers to do right by Reese. Now, a new chapter starts in Atlanta and she is already fitting in the sisterhood.
“I’m not settling for the same s*** we did this year,” Reese said in September. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.” The relationship between Reese and the Sky management deteriorated once Reese torched the team in the media. She demanded more and the franchise suspended her for half a game. Now, she has been in Atlanta for barely a few weeks and she has already noticed a difference.
“Being able to come to an organization that really cares about their players means a lot. I saw Renee at games and didn’t even know she was part of the ownership,” Reese said in her introductory press conference. “Having a GM that really wanted me and understood my talents, being able to talk to players who genuinely know who I am as a person and as a player, is a breath of fresh air.”
Renee Montgomery is the first former WNBA player to hold a team ownership stake and an executive role after purchasing the Dream in 2021 as part of the three-member ownership group with Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair. She played in the WNBA for 11 years, winning two championships in the process.
So, she understands a player’s perspective and what they need, giving the Dream a unique advantage over the other teams who have corporate-minded front offices. “It makes me emotional because I haven’t had this, and I’m really grateful. I’m really looking forward to starting,” Reese further said. “I felt like (the Dream) loved each other. I could feel the sisterhood on the court and off the court.”
In a whirlwind free agency with the camps starting almost immediately, this connection was important for the Dream. A team might have every piece in the world but unless they gel together, the vision might not translate on the court. However, that doesn’t mean Reese is hating on her former team.
“I’m really grateful for the people and the environment I was in. I’ll always be grateful for that because I experienced a lot of great things and was able to grow in my first two years,” Reese said. “But I wanted more. I love to win. I love to compete, and I wanted to be surrounded by people who can make me better. I’m not satisfied with where I am as a player.”
That’s consistent with her demands from the Sky. It’s as easy as that. At the Atlanta Dream, Reese arrives in a growing setup that is coming off a franchise best 30-win season. The core is set with the likes of Naz Hillmon, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada.
Reese no longer needs to carry the team on her shoulders, which takes a lot of weight off her. In addition, Reese fits in their play style under Karl Smesko, who emphasizes the three-ball. For Reese, feeling valued matters, but what she brings on the court might matter even more.
Angel Reese Tagged “The Missing Link” In Atlanta Dream’s Title Hopes
The Atlanta Dream was already on the verge of being a title contender. Allisha Gray finished fourth in MVP voting last season. Rhyne Howard became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 300 3-pointers while averaging 17.5 points and 4.6 assists per game. Naz Hillmon was named Sixth Player of the Year, and Brionna Jones was an All-Star.
Yet, they were upset by a second-string Indiana Fever who had many key players out with injuries in the first round of the playoffs. “Angel being here … she’s the piece that we needed to get us over the hump,” Gray said. “She really can spread her wings and show all parts of her game. I mean, we all know she’s one of the best rebounders in the league, but I feel here in Atlanta we are able to show that she’s more than a rebound, because Angel’s a bucket.”
Angel Reese had two great individual seasons in Chicago, she averaged 14.1 points ,12.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while earning two all-star call ups. “Angel, I think is special for us because she could be exactly what we were missing,” Howard said. She gives the Dream a star punch, that extra firepower to dominate in big games. Her rebounding will give them extra possessions, as Karl Smesko explained and immediately make them a threat to all the top teams in the league.
