To the public, Angel Reese’s trade from Chicago was a blockbuster move. Inside the locker room, it was reportedly a sigh of relief.
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The Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream confirmed a trade that sent Angel Reese to Atlanta. And while experts and fans are alarmed by Chicago’s business dealings around the roster, a Chicago Sky insider has revealed that the trade could have a positive effect on the locker room morale.
Yahoo Sports columnist Rusty Weiss has reported that, according to an unnamed insider, the Chicago Sky players are, in fact, happier after the trade, and the franchise will be much better off in the long term.
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“There has been so much apprehension between the team and her, and everyone is happy that they don’t have to deal with her various controversies, whether she brings it on herself or otherwise,” the insider said before claiming, “They (teammates) were getting sick of her, and to make this trade was very much needed for the health of the organization moving forward.”
Angel Reese spent two years with the Chicago Sky after being drafted seventh in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The 23-year-old earned back-to-back All-Star honors despite the franchise being unable to translate her strong play into more team wins.
In an explosive interview with the Chicago Tribune, Angel Reese demanded better facilities and more investment in the roster while also announcing that she might look for a new home if things don’t improve. And while facilities and lack of investment have been plaguing the Sky franchise, the move stems from her selfishness and overall behavior, as per the insider.
Angel Reese can no longer complain about either, entering a Dream roster that went 30-14 in the regular season last year. The Chicago Sky players will face their former teammate for the first time in the preseason at the end of April, with the first regular-season meetup scheduled at home in early June.
The Chicago Sky rebuild is picking up steam after Reese’s trade
While a lot of eyebrows were raised in the aftermath of the Angel Reese trade, fans are slowly realizing the potential of the Chicago Sky rebuild underway as the dust settles. Angel Reese’s trade to Atlanta equipped the Sky franchise with two first-round picks in the next couple of years.
In terms of immediate solutions, Chicago has three picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft, including a fifth pick, which could see them land a player capable of going straight into the starting five, given the depth and quality of this year’s draft class. Most projections have Chicago getting Flau’jae Johnson or Kiki Rice, both of whom would be valuable additions.
Chicago also protected its players from being picked in the Expansion Draft after dealing in trade picks with Portland and Toronto. Their next step has been to designate Ariel Atkins as a core player, who is now seen as a valuable trade option, as the Sky franchise explores the prospect of bringing Sparks youngster Rickea Jackson.
The Chicago Sky is in conversations with Skylar Diggins and both sides might make a decision soon, multiple sources tell me. #WNBAFreeAgency
— Roberta 🏳️🌈 (@robertawbb) April 10, 2026
The latest rumors also link Chicago with a potential move for Seattle veteran Skylar Diggins, a 7-time All-Star point guard who is currently an unrestricted free agent. Bringing in Diggins could see Chicago go for someone like 19-year-old French forward Nell Angloma in the WNBA Draft, who can compensate for Reese’s exit, to an extent, in and around the paint.
There are still a few weeks left before preseason begins, and the Chicago Sky look like they mean business.
Written by
Edited by
Pranav Venkatesh