The 2026 season mashup provided multiple teams a strong chance of clinching the championship. Two bottom-placed teams, the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky, also stack up their roster. Interestingly, the Wings built the team around star rookie Paige Bueckers, while the Sky franchise traded its megastar, Angel Reese, ahead of the 2026 season.
Yet both players remain key to their respective franchise’s success. The league GMs also voted Bueckers as the preferred star to build a team around, while the Dream GM lauded Reese’s acquisition, enhancing the team’s championship chances
Both players will face each other next, and the UConn star has nothing but praise for her competitor.
Paige Bueckers Lauds Angel Reese’s Impact On Games
The Team USA teammates will be opponents on the day, with Wings playing against the Dream team on Tuesday. This highlights another high-profile rookie encounter between Bueckers and Reese. So when the reporters asked her to mention the changes the wings need to make to play Angel Reese, PB indirectly praised her opponent.
“On both ends of the floor, just a paint presence… defensively she can switch & guard 1-5. Offensively great screener, roller, passer… she can finish around the rim. Her energy is contagious; she brings confidence to her teammates,” Bueckers said.
Paige Bueckers speaks on Angel’s versatility:
— Angel Report🌹 (@AngelReportt) May 11, 2026
“On both ends of the floor, just a paint presence… defensively she can switch & guard 1-5. Offensively great screener, roller, passer… she can finish around the rim. Her energy is contagious, she brings confidence to her teammates” pic.twitter.com/gA66ZHLKhV
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The former LSU star maintained her double-double stats in two seasons with the Sky franchise and will be looking for more impactful games. Her dominance in the paint gives her team a significant advantage on both ends of the court, as the 2025 guard explained.
Interestingly, both players remained at the top of their game in the opening fixtures, helping their respective sides record close victories.
Paige Bueckers And Angel Reese Shone On Season Opener
The former UConn star led the Dallas Wings in their May 9 opener against the Indiana Fever, putting on an absolute clinic in efficiency. She tallied 20 points, four assists, and three rebounds while shooting a remarkable 80% from the field. Her ability to navigate the Fever’s defense with only one turnover over 32 minutes was the catalyst for a narrow 107–104 victory. Coach Jose Fernandez also praised Bueckers’ poise in the game.
Paige Bueckers today 🔥
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 9, 2026
• 20 points
• 4 assists
• 3 rebounds
• 8/10 FG pic.twitter.com/k3fbd43CvS
On the other hand, Reese debuted for the Atlanta Dream in a gritty 91–90 win over the Minnesota Lynx. Reese dominated the glass as expected, recording a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with 11 points and 2 assists. Her block in the final possession of the game handed the Dream side a crucial victory.
But her relentless motor on the boards was the deciding factor in the one-point game, as her second-chance opportunities and defensive presence stifled the Lynx’s late-game momentum. Both players showcased immense poise under pressure, ensuring their respective teams started the 2026 campaign with high-stakes wins and setting a competitive tone for the rest of the summer.