I had two thoughts Monday when Angel Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream for two first-round picks. The first? Atlanta will be a contender for a title in the WNBA’s 30th season. The second? The city of Atlanta might have to run back 404 Day, the annual cultural and community celebration held every April 4.

Reese’s game and branding not only fit a team that was a possession away from last year’s WNBA semifinals, but a city that has provided an international stage for its brightest stars, complete with its own unique and soulful Southern charm.

“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in a statement. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”

That “everything” isn’t just the fact that she’s a walking double-double whenever she competes in a WNBA game. It’s also about being the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or appear on the cover of Vogue Magazine in her signature shoe. And even with those lofty off-court achievements, Reese remains relatable enough to be a role model for young women.

The first game Reese played against the Dream in Atlanta, in July 2024, is a fitting point of reference. She was greeted by young fans prior to tipoff, then responded on the court with a 12-point, 19-rebound performance. Later that night, it was announced she had made that year’s WNBA All-Star team, and she responded with gratitude and tears.

“They just told me I’m an All-Star. I’m just so happy,” she said after the Sky’s win over the Dream. “I know the work I’ve put in. Coming into this league so many people doubted me and didn’t think my game would translate and I wouldn’t be the player I was in college, or better, or would be worse, or wouldn’t be where I am right now.”

That’s also why this trade matters for Reese. It’s not just about us — it’s about her.

This is the first time since perhaps her junior year at LSU that she isn’t under some type of unwarranted scrutiny because of factors beyond her control or being vilified within the confines of her rivalry with Caitlin Clark. 

I wrote about Reese indirectly in my previous criticism of her coach at LSU, Kim Mulkey, and revisited Reese in 2024 during her rookie season through her viral hug with three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes. It is no coincidence that the “Bayou Barbie” would land on a team where its part-owner Renee Montgomery was a part of a progressive push that supplanted its previous owner over controversial politics.

Whether it was LSU’s 2024 Elite Eight loss, after which Reese revealed she had received death threats, or her WNBA rookie campaign with Chicago, which ended with the dismissal of her trusted head coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, and the departure of dynamic scoring guard Chennedy Carter, it has seemed as though Reese has been on the run. That perception grew last season when Reese’s relationship with the Sky became strained after she publicly expressed concerns about the state of the franchise. 

The move to Atlanta is more than a fresh start for Reese. It is refuge for a player who has honestly deserved better, considering her proximity to greatness.

“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in the press release announcing the trade. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”

With respect to what Reese accomplished in Chicago, the move to Atlanta is more reflective of the championship standard she established at LSU.

In 2023, she led the program to its first national title, with Alexis Morris and Flau’jae Johnson as her only teammates averaging double digits in scoring that season. The 2024 roster was markedly better, with transfers Aneesah Morrow and Hailey Van Lith, along with the sport’s top-ranked freshman recruiting class. That same progression didn’t happen in Chicago, as the Sky roster and coaching staff regressed in Reese’s second year — as did the team’s record.

The Dream, meanwhile, have a win-now roster, anchored by two certified buckets in guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. Brionna Jones and Jordin Canada are also double-digit scorers, and Naz Hillmon is the reigning Sixth Player of the Year. Last season, Atlanta’s Karl Smesko also broke the league record for most wins by a first-year head coach.

It’s the perfect situation for a league that is simultaneously celebrating its past and future expansion. Cementing Atlanta as a contender gives the WNBA competitive hubs across the country — out West with the Las Vegas Aces, in the Northeast with the New York Liberty and in the Midwest with the Indiana Fever.

It’s also OK to mention the Reese-Clark rivalry for its on-court dynamic.

Thanks to the acquisition of Reese, Atlanta’s games against the Indiana Fever will be must-see TV and a new flavor after last year’s hard-fought playoff series between the two teams. The backcourt duel — Clark and Kelsey Mitchell vs. Gray and Howard — and Reese reprising her college matchups with South Carolina alum Aliyah Boston in the post should give June 4’s first meeting between the two teams plenty of juice.

Beyond the topic of competition, there’s the undeniable optics of Reese, a star of her own merit.

With respect to Trae Young’s tenure in Atlanta, the city hasn’t had an undeniable celebrity athlete since Michael Vick grabbed the Madden cover in the early 2000s. And while folks might be reluctant to compare Reese’s potential to the legends of Dominique Wilkins or Deion Sanders, she already has the media darling and pop culture appeal part down.

All she and the Dream have to do now is win.

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