On or off the basketball court, Angel Reese continues to strengthen her bond with the Atlanta Dream. We’ve already seen Reese’s enthusiasm for the franchise, whether in media availability sessions or on the court during Dream’s preseason games. But the one she received from her team on Wednesday for her 24th birthday was a bit extra special, and memorable because it also involved the team head coach, Karl Smesko, who presented her with a financial gesture.
Atlanta sports reporter Reggie Chatman Jr recently shared a few glimpses of Reese’s birthday celebration at the Atlanta Dream gym. It showcases Reese’s Dream teammate singing birthday songs for her while carrying cutouts of her baby pictures. According to reports from Chatman, head coach Smesko also offered a $100 prize to Reese if she made a three-pointer on her birthday, which she did.
The @AtlantaDream celebrated Angel Reese’s birthday at the end of practice on Wednesday
They held Reese baby picture cutouts and sang Happy Birthday.
She also hit a Birthday 3-pointer to earn $100 from Coach Smesko. @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/oMw0yVw1u1
— Reggie Chatman Jr. (@ReggieChatman) May 6, 2026
Reese’s 24th birthday did deserve a birthday bash. On a personal note, she did serve some glamorous looks in a black dress on her birthday while posting a short yet notable message on her Instagram. “24. The year of simplicity. Less is More. 
” It definitely showcases Reese’s off-court endeavors and high exploits of fashion that fans are accustomed to.
But the welcome she got from her teammates in Atlanta training definitely made her birthday a bit extra special. Furthermore, Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko’s financial gesture also showcases the comfort level with which they operate within the entourage, and also adds weight to how quickly ChiBarbie has blended into this new team and with her new head coach.
Now, it might be to test Reese’s skills from beyond the arc, which, of course, doesn’t come naturally to her from a skill perspective. But Smesko’s overall gesture was immensely heartwarming for Reese’s birthday. Notably, Angel Reese’s equation with head coach Smesko isn’t just restricted to off-court nuances, though. The duo has gotten along pretty well tactically as well.
The Atlanta forward had shared a few days back that she has had an “amazing” experience with Smesko in the camp so far. Furthermore, in a recent admission, the Atlanta head coach clearly outlined the qualities of Reese that he finds commendable and offered his perspective on working with the two-time WNBA All-Star, just a few days before her birthday.
“Just getting to work with her every day, her attitude about stuff, her wanting to get better, she wants to be held accountable,” Smesko had said. “She’s an all-star player, but she wants to be the best player, so it just makes it fun to go to work when you’re dealing with players who really are motivated to get better every day.”
In her preseason stretch with the Atlanta Dream, Reese has showcased signs of form and momentum. Although Karl Smesko deployed her on the court for limited minutes, accounting for just 24 minutes across two games. But even then, the two-time WNBA Rebounding leader made good use of those minutes, recording 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals in these games.
Her shooting from the field was cold in the first game, just over 28% against the Chicago Sky. But it improved drastically against the Washington Mystics, where she went 3-for-7 from the field for 42.9%. And subsequently, these impressive preseason outings have generated significant hype around her first season with the Atlanta Dream, as reflected in major assessments.
Angel Reese’s Early Flashes for Atlanta Raise Her Individual and the Team’s Stocks
Following her move to the Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese has clearly reflected that she wants to win Championships with her new franchise. On the surface, it makes complete sense, given that both of her seasons at the Chicago Sky ended in loss, 13-27 and 10-34. But subsequently, this decision has also affected her individual stocks. For instance, in a recent assessment, Yahoo Sports analyst Caroline Fenton claimed that joining the Dream might make Reese a potential candidate for Defensive Player of the Year this season.
“Of course, you can’t talk about MVP or Defensive Player of the Year without talking about A’ja Wilson and having her in the conversation,” Fenton said. “I ultimately landed on Angel Reese. I think DOPY like MVP, you have to be on a good team. You have to be on contending team. I believe that Atlanta Dream are going to be that. So, I ultimately ended on Angel. I mean she’s good for a double-double on any given night.”
The assessment does make complete sense. In the few years we’ve seen of her, ChiBarbie has proved her acumen as an elite defender on the court. Her exploits also saw her bag the Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year last season. And with Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray in the roster doing much of the heavy lifting on the offensive end, it’s quite certain that Reese will be required to do the defensive work at times for the Dream, which again will be her natural habitat.
Besides the individual awards, Angel Reese’s arrival on the Atlanta Dream has also raised the team’s ceiling immensely. The title contenders are no longer just an om-paper chant for Dream, as it has recently received backing from key league front-office members. For instance, in the WNBA GM survey, the Dream ranked third among teams with the highest percentages of winning the WNBA Championship this season.
Only the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty were ahead of the Dream in this regard. Of course, it doesn’t benefit their league positioning, but it clearly underscores Reese’s impact on the Atlanta Dream upon arrival. The question of whether these predictions will eventually come true is yet to be seen. It will be even more interesting to see if the franchise can break the shackles of a first-round playoff curse that they have been suffering in the last few seasons.
