Bayou Barbie: Angel Reese Traded to Atlanta Mere Weeks Before Season Start

The 23-year-old star will join the Dream after two seasons with the Chicago Sky.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented WNBA basketball game, with players' forms broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant colors like blue, orange, and purple, conveying the dynamic energy and potential tensions of the league.The trade of star player Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream injects new energy and potential drama into the WNBA just before the season tips off.Chicago Today

Angel Reese, a two-time WNBA All-Star known for her 'mebounding' technique, has been traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream just weeks before the start of the new season. The move comes amid reports of locker room drama and Reese's public criticism of her former team's lack of talent around her, despite her individual success.

Why it matters

Reese is considered one of the WNBA's most marketable young stars, so her trade to Atlanta is a significant shakeup in the league just before tipoff. The move also highlights the challenges of managing team chemistry and expectations around a dominant individual player.

The details

In her first two WNBA seasons, Reese made the All-Star team and was an MVP candidate as a rookie. However, the Sky struggled, winning just 23 of 84 games during her tenure. Reports indicate Reese's public criticism of her teammates and the organization's roster-building contributed to the trade, which will send her to an Atlanta team featuring veteran stars Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner.

  • The WNBA season begins on May 8, 2026.
  • Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026, just weeks before the season start.

The players

Angel Reese

A 23-year-old WNBA star known for her 'mebounding' technique, in which she rebounds her own missed shots. Reese was a two-time All-Star with the Chicago Sky before being traded to the Atlanta Dream.

Brionna Jones

A veteran WNBA player who now plays for the Atlanta Dream, Reese's new team.

Brittney Griner

A veteran WNBA player who now plays for the Atlanta Dream, Reese's new team.

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What’s next

The WNBA season begins on May 8, 2026, giving Reese and her new Atlanta Dream teammates little time to build chemistry before the start of the season.

The takeaway

Reese's trade to Atlanta highlights the challenges of managing team dynamics around a dominant individual player, even one as talented as the 'Bayou Barbie.' Her move to the Dream provides a fresh start, but also raises questions about how she will mesh with veteran stars like Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner.