The Atlanta Dream’s bet on Angel Reese has worked out well so far in the season. In her first season with the franchise, Reese has served as a fulcrum in the team’s frontcourt while also contributing her leadership skills. Now, amid Reese averaging 0.6 points more than last season, veteran teammate Brionna Jones has shared a candid assessment of how Atlanta has suited the ATL Barbie.

“I think she’s [Reese] been great,” Jones said, as per reporter Wilton C. Jackson II. “She’s been great vocally. I think she brings that energy every day in the in the timeouts in practice. She’s always using her voice, and she’s always bringing that energy. So, I think just that growth that way.”

“But I think just on the court, she’s been great in this new offense. I think it’s been a little different for her, but I think she’s done a really great job of picking up the things that Karl [Smesko] wants from her and being able to do what we need her to do.”

Reese arrived in Atlanta needing to prove she could thrive in a new offensive system, after consecutive rebounding leader titles with the Chicago Sky. Thus, the expectations for Reese were already high, and she has delivered, as Jones notes in her assessment posted by Wilton C. Jackson II on X.

Reese is currently leading the league in rebounds, averaging 11.8 rebounds per game as per WNBA.com. She is followed closely by Jessica Shepard of the Dallas Wings, with 11.6 rebounds per game.

Her 16 double-doubles underscore how seamlessly she’s fit into Atlanta’s offensive scheme. Reese is also averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game. Besides these on-court intangibles, Reese has also molded into a leader.

Reese’s voice has motivated the Dream even with veterans like Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada. Gray shed light on it during an interview back in May, via Fox News Digital.

“She’s just such a positive person. No matter what state we are in the game, she always brings us together and lets us know we got it. And she’s such a hard worker, and she’s such a good person as well.”

Even Rhyne Howard echoed the same sentiment after Atlanta’s 82-80 comeback win over the Phoenix Mercury in May.

“Oftentimes, we would’ve folded, but because of the tenacity that she (Reese) brings, because of the energy that she brings, we have no choice but to follow her. We continue to let her know that we need her. And she is coming up and has shown it every day.”

Angel Reese’s growth as a player is evident in her play on the hardwood. Her confidence in her skill set has helped her through tightrope situations for her team. One such moment occurred recently in the LA Sparks game on Monday.

Returning from a right ankle injury, Reese dropped a stellar performance, recording 23 points and 13 rebounds. But there was one moment in the fourth frame of play that clearly establishes her self-confidence and shows how comfortable she is in the offensive setup.

Angel Reese’s Clutch Play in Q4 Against the LA Sparks Earns Praise From Karl Smesko

In the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Dream-LA Sparks clash, the scores were tied at 87-87. The game was equally poised on both ends. But it was just before Reese’s scored a clutch 23-foot three-pointer to put the Dream ahead.

Now, it’s no secret that shooting from distance is not Reese’s strongest suit. In fact, her career stats show that she scores just 16.7% from the three-point line. But she went against the odds to net the shot when her team needed it the most. Speaking in the post-game presser, Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko heaped praise on Reese’s shot execution.

“She’s definitely been working on it since training camp. She’s improved a good deal. It looked like a really good release on that one where she got her follow-through the way she wanted to do it. To do it with a tie game late in the fourth quarter to be the one that you really get that you’ve been working on for months to help you win a game, that was definitely a fun moment for everybody.”

With Reese providing offensive stability, the Atlanta Dream clinched a 92-101 win. It was a much-needed one for the Dream, especially because they have lost six of the last eight games. They are currently second in the Eastern Conference division, and with Reese leading from the front, they have a few opportunities against Toronto and Chicago to improve their record over the next few games.