It’s official: Angel Reese will leave the Chicago Sky after two seasons and don the colors of the Atlanta Dream following a trade for a first-round pick in the 2027 draft and another in 2028, while the Dream will receive second-round trade rights in 2028, as announced on Monday.
This marks a turning point in the history of the league and her own career, but she won’t have to wait long to face her former team, as the Dream will make their preseason debut against the Sky in a game that, suddenly, is generating far more anticipation than a simple exhibition match.
Dream vs. Sky: a game that’s already promising
Heading into a new season and a new team in Atlanta, Angel will join Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard in a bid to contend for the title, but her first test will be a real trial by fire: she’ll have to face her former team.
On Wednesday, April 29, the Dream will kick off their preseason by visiting Chicago to face off at Wintrust Arena, where both teams will immediately see the implications of this trade on the court.
Of course, all eyes will be on Reese, who was selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Sky and averaged 14.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over 64 games, earning two All-Star selections. Now, she will begin a new chapter with Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the two teams have faced off ten times, with the Dream holding a clear advantage over the Sky, winning 8 games to Chicago’s 2. The last five times they played, Atlanta came out on top:
- September 17, 2024: Dream win 70-86
- June 13, 2025: Dream win 70-88
- June 22, 2025: Dream win 80-93
- July 16, 2025: Dream win 86-49
- August 7, 2025: Dream win 86-65
The Dream are coming off a great season, achieving their best finish since 2018 by finishing 3rd with a 30-14 record and qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the Indiana Fever. On the other hand, the Sky are embarking on a new era following Reese’s departure, adopting a long-term approach focused on flexibility and future draft picks after failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year with a 10-34 record.
Although the game won’t count toward the standings, the story is undeniable: a traded star, a franchise turning a new page, and an immediate reunion.
Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky Regular Season
The Sky’s 2026 regular season begins on Saturday, May 9, at 8 p.m. CST as they visit the Moda Center to face the newly formed Portland Fire.
Meanwhile, Atlanta and Reese will kick off their season on Sunday, May 10, against the Minnesota Lynx at the Target Center.
Both teams have several matchups scheduled:
- April 30, 2026: Preseason game at Wintrust Arena (Chicago).
- June 10, 2026: First regular-season matchup in Chicago.
- July 19, 2026: Game at Gateway Center Arena (Atlanta).
- September 20, 2026: Final scheduled regular-season matchup in Atlanta
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