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Angel Reese reveals main reason she joined the Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese’s move to the Atlanta Dream appeared to be a carefully planned decision shaped by her observations and long-term goals.
The Atlanta Dream made headlines in April after completing a blockbuster trade to acquire Angel Reese, the league’s leading rebounder, in exchange for two first-round draft picks. Since then, Reese has already shown why the franchise was willing to make such a significant move, producing multiple double-doubles despite the team suffering a loss to defending champions Las Vegas Aces.
However, Reese’s departure from the Chicago Sky came as a surprise to many fans. Still, the 23-year-old’s decision did not appear to be impulsive, as she seemingly made the move with a clear mindset and based on observations that influenced her choice. something she herself has now revealed.
The Atlanta Dream star spoke to the media during what appeared to be a practice session ahead of the team’s Friday night matchup against the Dallas Wings.
She explained that one of the main reasons behind choosing the franchise this season was the influence of coach Karl Smesko and the positive impact she noticed he had on players.
Angel Reese drawn to player development system
“Looking at last year, I mean the success that they had under one year with Karl… I was just seeing how the player development was for (Karl Smesko) and how he developed Naz (Hillmon) in one year and how I wanted that,” she said.
Karl Smesko joined the Atlanta Dream in 2024 and guided the franchise to the best record in the Eastern Conference while finishing third overall in the 2025 WNBA standings. Players like Naz Hillmon showed noticeable improvement under his system. She raised her scoring average from 5.6 points in 2024 to 8.8 points per game last season.
Reese, who endured difficult seasons with the Chicago Sky since her rookie campaign in 2024 and missed the playoffs, appeared to see strong positives in joining Karl Smesko’s system for understandable reasons.
Also read: Angel Reese opens up on Paige Bueckers friendship amid Atlanta's win vs Wings
However, she also made it clear that her decision was driven by one major goal. competing for and winning a championship. “l wanna win a WNBA championship no matter what it looks like for me,” she said.
Reese is currently averaging 10.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game and is set to take the court for the fourth time in a home game for the Atlanta Dream on Friday. She will likely aim to continue her push toward the ultimate goal of strengthening the Dream’s championship campaign.
