The Chicago Sky didn’t just trade Angel Reese; they traded a cornerstone of their franchise, and their fanbase is already starting to feel the aftereffects.
While the Atlanta Dream have strengthened their roster by bringing in Angel Reese in a confirmed trade, the Chicago Sky seems to have lost more than a star with the potential of becoming a centerpiece of their franchise.
The trade between Atlanta and Chicago sent shockwaves through the WNBA. It sees Angel Reese go to Atlanta, with the Dream giving up two first-round picks while receiving a second-round pick swap option.
And while the jury is still out on what the Chicago Sky plan to do, the franchise is reeling from the after-effects of losing a popular star in Angel Reese. Thousands of fans seem to have changed allegiances, with the Chicago Sky losing 10k followers on their Instagram account while the Atlanta Dream gained 18k on the same social media platform within hours of the trade confirmation.
The Angel Reese trade led to big swings in Instagram followings for the Dream and Sky
pic.twitter.com/jKcG82H0BM
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 6, 2026
Reese leads the league in more than just rebounding and is the most followed WNBA star on Instagram, with her account having 5.2 million followers. The 23-year-old leads fellow new-age stars Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, with daylight between the trio and others’ popularity on the social media platform.
Reese’s popularity and performances provide more than just followers, with the Chicago Sky able to commercialize her presence over the last two years through merchandising, ticket sales, and more, leaning heavily into her on-court and off-court personality to create a windfall in revenue.
While Chicago gains two first-round picks, they will only become fruitful in 2027 and 2028, respectively, which prevents them from finding an immediate addition to bolster their ranks, especially with how deeply talented the 2026 draft class looks.
For Atlanta, however, they add Angel Reese to a roster already boasting efficient scorers like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, while also bringing in a commercial driver to their franchise.
Angel Reese trade highlights another Chicago Sky failure
While the trade enables Angel Reese to compete better in the WNBA immediately, the 23-year-old had actually sought to do the same during her time in Chicago. However, her comments were deemed inappropriate and are still considered one reason the franchise ended up trading her.
That they traded her for just two draft picks, knowing fully well what Reese means competitively and commercially to the Chicago franchise, hints at the same.
After spending two seasons with Chicago, rooted to the bottom of the WNBA standings, Angel Reese pointed out the need for better facilities and more investment in the roster, with her statements sounding almost like an ultimatum, as she added that she might take her talents elsewhere if nothing improved.
USA TODAY columnist Nancy Armour has now pointed the finger at franchise owner Michael Alter, suggesting the WNBA is also responsible for how Alter runs the Sky franchise. Armour hinted that Reese’s trade could be born out of the fact that, as per the new CBA, the 23-year-old could demand a supermax deal as soon as next year, something Alter is unlikely to agree to.
Armour said, “Alter has long run the Chicago Sky on a shoestring, unable or unwilling to provide his players with resources appropriate for a professional franchise… Reese’s salary will jump to $350,000 this season, and she could be eligible for a supermax deal worth $1.4 million as early as next year, but for sure in 2027. No way Alter can, or will, pay that. So off to the Atlanta Dream Reese is going, leaving the franchise in the country’s third-largest city an even bigger laughingstock than it was before.”
The new CBA will see every franchise’s payroll balloon, including Chicago’s. But the alarming factor seems to be that Alter has let go of a potential franchise icon without getting much in return, especially after going two seasons without putting up much of a challenge in the WNBA.
Armour echoed what Reese highlighted in her statement as well: the need for more investment and better facilities, issues that persist with the Sky franchise.
Whether two distant draft picks can ever replace a franchise-altering talent is a question that will haunt the Sky, leaving its fanbase to grapple with the team’s uncertain future.
