Just hours into the first day of free agency, it was announced that Angel Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the Dream’s 2027 and 2028 first-round picks (WNBA, 2026).
Reese had expressed frustrations with the Sky franchise in an interview with the Chicago Tribune near the end of the 2025 WNBA season, as the Sky finished with a 10-34 record, which tied for the worst in the league. However, with her secured under a rookie contract and as one of the best rebounders in the league, it was thought that she would likely return to the Sky for the 2026 season. Given this trade, it seems the Sky had other plans.
Since the Reese trade, the Sky have signed major names. Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson, and Dijonai Carrington are three huge pickups. This is a new look for the Sky, and the early look at this 2026 roster is a strong playoff contender. These moves lead to the additional questions of whether they are planning to resign champion veteran Courtney Vandersloot after her season-ending ACL tear last season? Are they considering running the offense through Kamilla Cardoso, who averaged 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds last season? Or have they made all of their big moves early on?
Needless to say, it is impressive to see what the Sky has managed to pull together within the first week of free agency. There was concern that with Reese was gone, a majority of their 2025 roster now free agents, and the organization’s not-so-great track record of players leaving the organization, that they wouldn’t have much to bargain with. However, with them signing 3 all-star players even before the WNBA draft, their bargaining skills seem to be just fine, and they should have no issue finding all-stars to put on a great show as they host All-Star weekend.
All-Star weekend is set for Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Chicago, IL.
Sources:
Chicago Tribune. (2025). Angel Reese wants the Chicago Sky to do more in WNBA free agency: ‘We can’t settle for what we have this year’. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/chicago-sky-angel-reese-free-agency/
WNBA. (2026). Chicago Sky Trade Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, Acquire Draft Picks. https://www.wnba.com/news/chicago-sky-trade-angel-reese-to-atlanta-dream