WNBA offseason trade grades 2026: Winners and losers

Michael VoppelApril 6, 2026, 03:22 pm ET
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multiple authors

In the first 24 hours of WNBA free agency, we’re off to a bang!

angel reesedays with chicago sky Since last year she seemed to be numbered expressed concern publicly Regarding the future of the team, it became clear that there was a disagreement between the franchise and Reese. On Monday, he turned to the business of sending him atlanta dream.

The Sky were excited to select Reese at No. 7 in the 2024 draft, and he had an excellent first season, proving that he not only had a dependable elite skill in rebounding, but that he could also elevate his offensive game. She got along well with coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who instilled confidence in Reese throughout her rookie season. When Weatherspoon was fired after just one season, Reese became publicly disappointed by the decision, one of the first major rifts in her relationship with the franchise.

Now she moves to Atlanta, where — when the dust settles on free agency — she should have a veteran core to embrace the still-learning Reese.

This offseason, we’ll take a look at which teams got the better deal in major WNBA deals, starting with Reese’s move. ESPN analyzes all the implications in our Trade Grade.

Free agency kicks off with blockbuster Reese trade

GET THE DREAM: angel reese

Get Sky: A first-round pick in 2027, a first-round pick in 2028, the right to swap second-round picks in the 2028 draft with the Dream

Atlanta Dream:A

The Dream brought in longtime college coach Carl Smesko last season and he was a favorite for Coach of the Year. Atlanta completely changed its offense under Smesko, encouraging 3-point shooting and more positional play. While it may not initially seem like it would be a good fit for a pure power forward like Reese, Smesko and general manager Dan Padover have certainly studied his game a lot and have strategized about how to integrate him into this system.

Reese isn’t just a good rebounder; It’s almost surreal how great she is. She keeps possessions alive on the offensive end and gives teams more opportunities to initiate transition attacks along their defensive boards. He also has a nonstop motor and good defensive skills.

Now onto the famous “knock” against Reese: He’s not a great shooter. But don’t underestimate his desire to improve his game. Smesko is an exceptional teacher, skilled at putting players in the best position to perform well.

Reese’s comments last year about how the Sky’s roster needed to be upgraded probably wouldn’t have been taken well by his Chicago teammates, understandably. But she wasn’t wrong: Reese wants to win, and she seemed to speak out of a sense of passionate desperation. By having experienced players around him in an organization that appreciates his personality – but can also help him channel it in a productive way – he can perform at his best.

Chicago Sky: B

This grade could go much higher if the players Sky select produce good results – and it’s possible they could. There’s also the reality that Sky probably felt there was no way to move forward with Reese after the way things went down last season.

That said, Reese is attractive as a player in addition to his skills: The Sky are losing their personality, their off-court appeal to fans, their energy. For the most part, it seemed like Chicago fans loved him and many would be sad to see him go. (Those same fans seem unhappy with the Sky’s overall direction since the franchise’s WNBA title-winning peak in 2021.)

Sky’s other moves in the coming weeks could help calm fans – but his lack of action could irk them even more. If the ultimate return on the deal is substantial this grade may be very low – but if it is not, the grade may be very high.