Angel Reese: From LSU Champion to a Fresh Start in Atlanta
Few young players have generated as much attention, on and off the court, as Angel Reese since she turned professional. A national championship at LSU, back-to-back WNBA All-Star selections, and a genuinely dominant rebounding record have defined her game β and in 2026, a trade to a new franchise gave her career its next chapter.
A championship college career
Reese was born on 6 May 2002 in Randallstown, Maryland, and played college basketball first at Maryland before transferring to LSU, where she became a genuine star. She led LSU to the 2023 NCAA championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honours at the Final Four and unanimous First-team All-American recognition. She followed it with SEC Player of the Year honours as a senior in 2024, alongside multiple further All-American selections across her college career.
An immediate WNBA impact
The Chicago Sky selected Reese with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and she made an instant impression, earning an All-Star selection and setting the league’s single-season rebounding record in her rookie year. She backed it up with a second consecutive All-Star nod in 2025, leading the WNBA in rebounding in both of her seasons with the club and recording her first career triple-double along the way β genuine statistical dominance on the boards that quickly became her calling card.
Success in the Unrivaled league too
Beyond the WNBA, Reese has also competed in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league that launched in 2025. She won the inaugural championship with Rose BC and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year that same season, adding another title to her growing rΓ©sumΓ©. Her participation in the league’s second season in 2026 was more limited β she initially opted out before rejoining Rose BC late in the year, helping the team reach the playoffs before a first-round exit.
The trade to Atlanta
In April 2026, Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream, in a deal that saw Chicago receive future first-round draft picks in return. The move ended her two-season run with the franchise that drafted her, and she’s continued producing at an All-Star level in her new environment β recording her third consecutive All-Star selection in 2026 and helping Atlanta build one of the better records in the league that season.
An emotional return to Chicago
When Reese returned to the Midwest for the 2026 All-Star Game following her trade, Chicago fans gave her a warm ovation, a genuinely touching moment given the two productive seasons she’d given the franchise. Reese appeared visibly moved by the reception and responded with her own gratitude toward the fans who’d supported her rookie and sophomore campaigns.
What makes her game distinctive
Reese’s game is built overwhelmingly around elite rebounding and physical interior play, a left-handed forward who consistently ranks among the league’s leaders on the boards while also contributing solid scoring and playmaking numbers. Her ability to record double-doubles with genuine consistency β stacking up 17 or more in individual seasons β has made her one of the most statistically reliable frontcourt players in the WNBA since her rookie year.
Where her career stands
Angel Reese’s career so far has moved from a national championship at LSU to genuine WNBA stardom in remarkably short order β three consecutive All-Star selections, multiple rebounding titles, and now a fresh chapter with the Atlanta Dream after her trade from Chicago. Still only in her mid-twenties, with a statistical foundation built on some of the most consistent rebounding numbers in the league, she remains one of the WNBA’s most closely watched young frontcourt players.
Quick facts
Full name: Angel Reese | Born: 6 May 2002, Randallstown, Maryland | Team: Atlanta Dream (traded from Chicago Sky, April 2026) | Notable: 2023 NCAA champion and Final Four MOP with LSU, three-time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA rebounding leader, 2025 Unrivaled champion and Defensive Player of the Year.
Frequently asked questions
Which team does Angel Reese play for now?
The Atlanta Dream, following a trade from the Chicago Sky in April 2026.
Did Angel Reese win a national championship in college?
Yes β she led LSU to the 2023 NCAA title and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
How many WNBA All-Star selections does Angel Reese have?
Three, in each of her first three professional seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026).
What is Angel Reese known for as a player?
Elite rebounding β she’s led the WNBA in rebounds in multiple seasons and has recorded numerous double-doubles, including a career triple-double.
Has Angel Reese played in the Unrivaled league?
Yes β she won the inaugural 2025 championship with Rose BC and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.