Two years was all it took for the Chicago Sky to move on from their biggest bet.

Just 22 days before the 2026 WNBA season tipped off, the Sky front office made a move that raised more than a few eyebrows. They traded Angel Reese. For a player widely seen as the face of the franchise, the Sky were expected to build around her. However, the franchise chose a different path. And while fans are still trying to process the decision, one voice from Reese’s inner circle has offered a grounded perspective.

As Reese prepared to face the Chicago Sky for the first time in an Atlanta Dream jersey, her former teammate, Hailey Van Lith, broke her silence on the trade.

“Kind of like E, it was something that you saw, and you’re surprised by. But also like it’s the nature of the business, and everyone’s allowed to pursue their own personal endeavors,” she said just a few hours before the Sky locked horns with the Dream. “Our team is allowed to pursue their endeavors, and players are allowed to pursue their endeavors. It’s a trade-off, and I hope the best for her.”

“She deserves a place that she wants to be at and feels like it’s a good environment for her. I’m really happy for her that she took that jump and, you know, looking forward to competing and playing against her today,” she further added.

Van Lith and Angel Reese first shared the court at LSU when HVL transferred from Louisville for her junior year to play under the guidance of Kim Mulkey. And at that time, Reese was a senior on the Tigers’ roster.

That one-year stint built a connection that carried into the pros, where they reunited again after Van Lith was picked by the Sky in 2025. And together, they tried to steer Chicago through a difficult season that ended with a 10–34 record (one of the worst in franchise history).

However, they found themselves on opposite sides once again after Reese was sent away.

Angel Reese Makes Chicago Feel the Trade in Statement Dream Debut

For the first time since the trade, Reese was back in Chicago. And she made sure to make the most of it.

In what marked both her debut for Atlanta and the team’s first game of the 2026 preseason, she wasted no time in making her presence felt by putting up eight points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists in under 13 minutes.

Yes, those aren’t great numbers, but considering the number of minutes she was on the court, they aren’t bad either. And also, her impact went beyond the box score.

The 23-year-old created easy looks for teammates like Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard, showing exactly why Atlanta made the move to bring her in. Even with limited minutes as head coach, Karl Smesko kept most starters on the bench in the second half; her presence was undeniable.

And Chicago noticed.

Despite a relatively quiet crowd at Wintrust Arena, Angel Reese received a warm ovation when she checked in. Even her former team played a tribute video during the first timeout, which should be enough to tell you just how quickly she became a fan favorite during her two seasons with the team.

In her time with Chicago, Reese averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds and established herself as one of the league’s most consistent forces in the paint, which only brings the conversation back to one question: if she was this impactful, why did Chicago move on from her so quickly?

A Vicious Cycle Chicago Can’t Seem to Break

For a franchise that has rarely missed when it comes to identifying talent, it is terrible when it comes to keeping them.

Now, if you are wondering what makes us say that, it’s the pattern, because Angel Reese isn’t the first star the Sky have moved on from.

Over the years, Chicago has quietly built a reputation for letting elite talent slip away.

From Sylvia Fowles forcing her way out to Minnesota, to Elena Delle Donne requesting a move closer to home, the list doesn’t stop.

• Kahleah Copper, Finals MVP and one of the franchise’s most important pieces, was traded.
• Candace Parker, fresh off delivering a championship, walked away in free agency.
• Even role players like Gabby Williams found themselves moved elsewhere.

This has been a cycle where the Sky struggle to hold onto its stars for the long term. So Angel Reese is just the latest name on that list.

At first glance, some fans can frame the move as a rebuild. But the timeline of all this does raise questions. Reese was just two years into her WNBA career, already producing at an elite level and widely viewed as the face of the franchise. Players like that aren’t typically moved unless something behind the scenes shifts. And in this case, there were signs.

Last season, Reese didn’t shy away from voicing her expectations from the Sky front office. She openly called for roster upgrades and made it clear that competing at a higher level mattered to her. However, the response from the organization hinted at a disconnect.

The Sky labeled some of her comments as “detrimental” and handed her a brief suspension. That moment made it clear that things weren’t fully aligned. But from there, the situation only drifted further apart.

What started as frustration eventually turned into a trade, with Chicago sending Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for future first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, along with a 2028 second-round pick swap.

However, Reese was on cloud nine with this decision.

“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” she said. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”

In the end, maybe both sides got what they wanted.

But as Angel Reese starts fresh in Atlanta, there’s still a lingering feeling in Chicago that this might be another story they’ll revisit, not for what happened, but for what didn’t.