Chicago Sky trade star Angel Reese for future draft picks

The two-time All-Star forward heads to the Atlanta Dream in a major offseason shakeup.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:20am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue and orange, conceptually representing the Sky's roster changes.The trade of star forward Angel Reese signals a new era of rebuilding for the Chicago Sky as they look to retool their roster through the draft.Chicago Today

The Chicago Sky have traded two-time WNBA All-Star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for two future first-round draft picks, the team announced on Monday. The blockbuster deal marks the start of a new rebuilding phase for the Sky, who are looking to retool their roster after a disappointing season.

Why it matters

Reese was one of the Sky's cornerstone players, making the All-Star team in 2024 and 2025. Her departure signals a major shift in the team's direction as they look to acquire more draft capital and younger talent. The trade also has ripple effects across the WNBA, as Reese joins a Dream team that will look to build around her.

The details

In the trade, the Sky will receive two future first-round picks from the Dream, though the specific years of those selections have not been disclosed. Reese, 24, was entering the final year of her rookie contract with the Sky. By moving the young star now, Chicago can begin a full-scale rebuild around their remaining core players.

  • The trade was announced on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Angel Reese

A two-time WNBA All-Star forward who has played her entire career with the Chicago Sky since being drafted 3rd overall in 2023.

Chicago Sky

The professional women's basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois that plays in the WNBA.

Atlanta Dream

The professional women's basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia that plays in the WNBA.

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What they’re saying

“This was a difficult decision, but one we felt was necessary to put our team in the best position for long-term success. Angel is a tremendous player, and we wish her the absolute best in Atlanta.”

— James Wade, General Manager, Chicago Sky

What’s next

The Sky will now look to build around their remaining core players and use the future draft picks acquired in the trade to add more young talent to the roster.

The takeaway

The Sky's trade of star forward Angel Reese signals the start of a full-scale rebuild for the franchise, as they look to acquire more draft capital and younger talent to retool their roster for the long term.