Angel Reese Joins Atlanta Dream, Faces Former Rival Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese recently played her first game of the season with her new team, the Atlanta Dream, against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. The match, part of the Commissioner’s Cup series, saw Clark lead the Fever to an 83-71 victory. Despite Atlanta’s stronger record and higher standing, they couldn’t overcome Clark’s team.

Both players, Reese and Clark, receive accolades for their positive influences in the WNBA. Reese continues to impress, contributing significantly to her team. During Thursday’s game, she recorded her sixth double-double in nine games, scoring 11 points and collecting 10 rebounds. She added three assists and two blocks to her performance.

Since joining the Dream, Reese has turned heads with her remarkable start. She became the fastest player in the franchise’s history to reach 100 points and 100 rebounds in just nine games. ESPN Insights highlighted her significant impact by noting this milestone in their announcement.

In her career, Reese has surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Based on her progress in Atlanta, she seems poised to reach her 1,000th rebound. As a two-time WNBA All-Star, she currently leads the league with an average of 11.3 rebounds per game. In a recent game against the Dallas Wings, she grabbed 16 rebounds, her highest for the Dream thus far.

Reese has demonstrated the ability to secure up to 20 rebounds in a game, which she achieved multiple times while with the Chicago Sky. Her career-best is a 22-rebound performance against the Las Vegas Aces in August 2024.

Her tenure with the Chicago team came to an uneasy end last season. After publicly criticizing her team and teammates, she faced a half-game suspension. This controversy led to her offseason move to Atlanta.

The transition to the Dream seems positive, as they hold the Eastern Conference’s best record at 6-3, maintaining the top position even after Thursday’s loss. The Atlanta Dream will face the Washington Mystics at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.