Overview
- Reese, introduced Friday at an emotional Atlanta press conference, said she is “here to hoop,” will give 100 percent, and called the Dream a breath of fresh air.
- On April 6, Atlanta acquired Reese from Chicago for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 plus a 2028 second-round swap, giving the Sky added draft capital for a rebuild.
- Head coach Karl Smesko said the Dream plan to tap Reese’s elite rebounding and her growth as a playmaker and decision maker rather than using her only around the rim.
- Teammates Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Naz Hillmon mixed playful roasts with praise, with Gray calling Reese the piece to push Atlanta over the hump.
- Analysts cast the move as a win-now swing that carries risk because surrendering multiple first-rounders limits long-term flexibility under the new CBA, though Reese led the league in rebounding in each of her first two seasons.