“That it’s a breath of fresh air.” That’s how Angel Reese described her trade to the Atlanta Dream. And in the couple of weeks that she’s been around, the Dream have done everything to make her feel at home. She has seamlessly integrated into the team’s training camp. And as it appears, the franchise is also making a conscious effort to help her settle just as smoothly into her new environment, the city of Atlanta.
On Saturday, Reese took to her X page to make a request from fans familiar with Atlanta. Her exact post read: “HEY ATLLL. Let me know some things to do & places to eat!” As it appears, she was asking for recommendations on places to eat and things to do around the city. And of course, the Dream were one of the first to respond, urging fans to come to her aid. “Help our girl out, ATL 👇,” they wrote.
And of course, Angel Reese’s request was quite understandable. The 23-year-old star had never lived or played professionally in Atlanta prior to her trade on April 6. Her basketball career and personal life had primarily been rooted in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf South regions. Specifically, she was born and raised in Randallstown, near Baltimore, and remained in Maryland through high school and her first two years of college.
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Outside Maryland, she later moved to Baton Rouge after transferring to Louisiana State University for her junior and senior seasons. Then, after being drafted in 2024, she lived and played in Chicago for two seasons with the Chicago Sky before making the move to Atlanta.
However, while Reese had never lived in Atlanta before now, she has already referred to the city as home. Most notably, during her introductory press conference, she mentioned that playing in Atlanta as an opposing player always felt like a “home game” due to the support she received from local fans and the city’s atmosphere. She has also shared that she “always wanted to be in Hotlanta.”
And of course, the Dream fanbase has welcomed her with open arms. As she said, “The team has welcomed me so much, the atmosphere, the culture … I’m so excited to be in A-Town.” The team’s official Instagram gained 23,000 followers almost overnight following the announcement of her arrival. Her new No. 5 University Red jersey also sold out in every size in less than two hours after listing for pre-order. In fact, the demand was so high that Reese’s own mother, Angel Webb Reese, jokingly complained on social media that she couldn’t secure a jersey before they vanished.
Angel Reese will play her first regular-season game for the Atlanta Dream on May 10. Before then, fans will get to see her in action in a preseason game on April 30. Coincidentally, that’s a road matchup against her former team, the Chicago Sky. It’s a game that will be anticipated by fans of both the Dream and the Sky. Hopefully, they will make her former home welcoming enough.
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Angel Reese Prioritized Growth and Winning in Move to Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese’s two years with the Chicago Sky were record-breaking seasons. As a rookie, she set a then-WNBA record for the most total rebounds in a single season with 446 boards. By the end of 2025, she also held the record for the most double-doubles recorded in a player’s first two seasons with 46. She was also a WNBA All-Star in both seasons with the team, among other achievements.
Of course, this was a strong spell on a personal level. It was, however, not the same for the team as a whole. Despite Reese leading the league in rebounding and earning two All-Star nods, the Sky regressed significantly during her tenure. The team posted 13-27 and 10-34 records in her two seasons and missed out on the playoffs. For Reese, her records and All-Star selections were not enough, she wanted to win.
“I enjoyed being able to grow within my first two years,” Reese said during her first news conference. “but I wanted more. I love to win, I love to compete and I want to be surrounded by people that can make me better.” In fact, while with the Chicago Sky, Reese was vocal about her dissatisfaction with the team’s direction, particularly during a turbulent 2025 season.
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It’s not just about winning, it’s also about the growth the team can bring. “And I am not satisfied with what I am as a player. I felt like being around these kinds of players would help me be better,” Reese added. The goal for her was to arrive at a place where she can win, grow, and be part of “an organization that really cared about their players.” It seems that place is now the Atlanta Dream.
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