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“I know how to do everything because of my mom.” That was Angel Reese speaking in an interview with Vogue Australia. According to her, her mother was her first coach. Now, she’s her biggest supporter, and she hasn’t stopped showing it publicly, especially since Reese’s recent move to the Atlanta Dream.

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In yet another post since the move, Reese’s mom, Angel Webb Reese, once again made her presence felt, cheering on her daughter with a simple message, which marked what will be Angel Reese’s third season in the WNBA. “Year 3️⃣… Let’s Go 💪🏽!!!” she wrote on her X page. Alongside that, she also acknowledged the WNBA’s 30 years anniversary, as well as the league as a whole. “Cheers to The W 30 years & let us continue to support the league and show respect to all the players and coaches 🙂,” she added.

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A former professional player herself, she introduced Angel to the game of basketball from a young age. And since Reese began her professional journey, she has been a constant presence. Whether it’s showing up at games, traveling to major events, or publicly cheering her on across social media, she’s there. Now, after lending her unwavering support to the Chicago Sky over the past two years, she will shift that allegiance to the Atlanta Dream as Reese kicks off her third season in the league.

The past two seasons haven’t been quite productive for Reese in terms of team success. During her time with the Chicago Sky, the team failed to make the playoffs. They recorded back-to-back losing seasons with 13-27 and 10-34 records, respectively. There were also reported off-court tensions. Notably, toward the end of 2025, she was briefly suspended for half a game for comments deemed “detrimental to the team” after publicly criticizing the organization’s direction.

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Despite the team’s struggles, Reese was a dominant force, essentially functioning as a ‘walking double-double.’ Her record-breaking rookie campaign included an all-time WNBA record of 15 consecutive double-doubles, and she followed that up with 11 straight in her second year, tying for the third-most in a single season (23) despite missing 14 games to injury.

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She made league history by leading the WNBA in rebounds per game in each of her first two seasons with the Chicago Sky. In fact, as a rookie, she became the first player ever to record 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games.

She will now bring that same level of production to the Atlanta Dream, a team that appears to be in a stronger competitive position than the Sky. Reese has already described the move as a “breath of fresh air.” And naturally, the Atlanta Dream fanbase, one her mom will now align with, has welcomed her with open arms.

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New Teammate Sees Angel Reese as Final Piece of Atlanta Dream Puzzle

It’s not only the Atlanta Dream fans who have welcomed Angel Reese with open arms. She has also received quite the reception from her new teammates. In fact, three-time All-Star Allisha Gray described her as the piece the team has always needed to finally go all the way.

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“Angel being here… she’s the piece that we needed to get us over the hump,” Gray said. Last season, the Dream finished with a 30–14 record. However, despite their regular-season dominance, they suffered a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. With Reese now in the fold, Gray believes they have that extra edge to push further. For her, Reese brings more than just rebounding. As she added, “Reese really can spread her wings and show all parts of her game. I mean, we all know she’s one of the best rebounders in the league. But I feel here in Atlanta we are able to show that she’s more than a rebounder, because Angel’s a bucket.”

Apart from Gray, other teammates have also spoken highly of Reese since her arrival. Three-time All-Star Rhyne Howard also said she could be “exactly what the team is missing” and described her as “special.” Dream forward Naz Hillmon even admitted Reese is an annoying player to face, adding that she’s excited to finally have her on the same side.

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Angel Reese will most likely make her first appearance for the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, April 29, in a preseason matchup. Coincidentally and interestingly, that game will be against her former team, the Chicago Sky. Perhaps it will be an early chance to show them exactly what they are missing.

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Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel

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Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel is a WNBA journalist at EssentiallySports, bringing a fan-first perspective to coverage of the Women's National Basketball Association. With prior experience reporting on high school sports, college basketball, and the National Basketball Association, he has developed a reputation for timely reporting and audience-focused storytelling. His coverage spans match updates, breaking developments, player analysis, and roster moves, while also tracking the evolving dynamics shaping teams and athletes across the league.

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