Angel Reese’s Blockbuster Trade to Atlanta Forces Dream’s Ticket Prices to Nearly Double

The Chicago Sky have traded superstar forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for two first-round picks.

Angel Reese’s Blockbuster Trade to Atlanta Forces Dream’s Ticket Prices to Nearly Double

Angel Reese will now play for the Atlanta Dream (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Angel Reese has been traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream, receiving two first-round picks in return.
  • Ticket prices for the Atlanta Dream's home opener have nearly doubled, rising from $38 to $68 following the trade.
  • The trade has significantly impacted social media, with the Dream gaining 18,000 followers while the Sky lost 10,000.

Heading into the 2026 WNBA season, Chicago Sky fans wondered whether Angel Reese would leave the past behind and help the team take the next step in its quest to challenge for the title.

The franchise signed and traded for veterans such as Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, Rachel Banham, Kia Nurse, and Rebecca Allen, while also drafting young prospects Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld to give them a youthful balance.

The expectation was that this team could contend, but injuries to multiple players made it difficult for them to play to their strengths. Eventually, the frustration got to Angel Reese, and she claimed that the roster was not good enough for her to win.

This did not sit well with both her teammates and the organization, and it seemed as if she would be traded. Despite trying their best to avoid doing so, they relented and sent the superstar forward to the Atlanta Dream.

The Sky received two first-round picks in return and can now build a team without the distractions Reese brought toward the end of last season.

On the other hand, this trade vaults the Dream into championship-contender status. Their fans, knowing this, have started to demand tickets, and that has led to a significant surge in prices.

As per TickPick, the starting prices for Dream tickets have surged from $38 to $68, nearly double. This is likely to increase, and expect their games to be sold out, or even moved to the larger State Farm Arena.

Angel Reese’s move to Atlanta has a significant impact on social media followers

The Atlanta Dream fell short of their quest to win a championship last season after being stopped in their tracks by a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever.

The Dream already consist of a top-tier roster
The Dream already consists of a top-tier roster (Image via Women’s Hoops TTR/X)

The roster consists of perennial All-Stars Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner. Then they have reigning Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon, along with defensive menace Jordin Canada.

Despite that star power, Angel Reese‘s impact on the team’s social media presence has taken a significant leap ever since the trade news reached fans.

As per The Sporting News, 10K followers unfollowed the Chicago Sky Instagram page, while the Atlanta Dream gained 18K new fans. All within eight hours of the trade being announced.

Considering how Reese leads all WNBA stars with 5.2 million followers on Instagram, this impact is not surprising. Now, the Dream will enjoy the enhanced attention they will receive, now that the two-time All-Star has joined them.

Angel Reese did not ask Sky for a trade

When the trade news broke, many felt that Angel Reese had probably pushed the Chicago Sky to trade her. After all, playing alongside teammates she criticized is not the best workplace environment anyone would want.

Sources told me and Kendra Andrews Reese did not request a trade, but the Sky worked closely with her team to find her a new home, and that there was no contention between the two parties.

Alexa Philippou revealed on X

Even though NBA on Prime’s Taylor Rooks was the first to break the news, the ESPN duo of Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews dug deep and figured out that this trade was, after all, the Sky’s idea.

This was a departure from when they stated that they would not trade their best player. Now, it seems that they, too, felt that it was in the best interest of all involved that Angel Reese was not around their facilities.

Now, they are faced with rebuilding their team again, as their current roster was not good enough to scare opponents last year. Maybe changing from a superstar-centric scheme to one that brings the best out of the team would be the best way forward.

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