Before the 2026 free agency signing, Angel Reese’s trade to the Atlanta Dream shook the fanbase. While fans appreciated the Chicago Sky’s smart move in the expansion draft to protect its complete roster, moving its most impactful player confused many.
The Windy City franchise takes a firm step towards rebuilding, the move before the free agency makes a massive impact on multiple player decisions, giving the Atlanta Dream a big advantage with multiple All-Stars already on the roster. While fans are still decoding the trade, the 2024 rookie dropped a hint on social media.
Angel Reese’s Soft Hint Ahead Of Trade To Atlanta Dream
During the offseason, Reese confirmed her return to the Sky franchise despite the rumours surrounding her departure from the franchise. GM Jeff Pagliocca also gave his nod to keep the seventh overall pick from the 2024 WNBA draft and build around her.
But on April 5, a day before the actual trade, Reese hinted at the move with a cryptic post where she wrote, “He Is Risen.”
@grok context?
— Mohd Anas (@Anas25th) April 5, 2026
While it’s a classic Christian phrase celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, as described in the New Testament Gospels, it’s applicable to her situation, too, where she needed a fresh start to her professional career and to compete for the championship.
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Interestingly, most of the first rounders moving away from the Sky franchise succeeded nd won a title with their new franchises. The Former LSU star will be hoping for the same, making her the biggest winner from the trade.
Winners And Losers In Angel Reese Trade
The trade is a big gain for the Atlanta Dream, who immediately elevate their contender status by adding an elite, young rebounder to a core featuring Allisha Grey and Rhyne Howard. Reese brings immense star power and elite interior presence without the Dream losing current roster players.
Another winner would be the player herself as she escapes a tumultuous Chicago environment to join a more competitive, “win-now” situation in Atlanta, fresh off a 30-win 2025 season. And after her departure, Kamila Cardoso would also get some more ‘space’ around the rim, which is a big plus for the player.
The biggest losers in the trade are without any doubt the Chicago sky front office, who traded a two-time All-Star and cornerstone player for future draft picks after already sacrificing assets to get her signals a messy, potentially unnecessary rebuild, leading to criticism of general manager Jeff Pagliocca.