Chicago Sky get excellent grade for Angel Reese trade from ESPN

ESPN’s Michael Voepel wrote an article where he graded each side of the Reese to Atlanta trade. For the Sky, Voepel gave the franchise a ‘B’ for the trade. Below is what he wrote to highlight that grade:

“This grade could go up a lot if the picks the Sky get turn out well — and it’s possible they could. There’s also the reality that the Sky likely felt there was no path going forward with Reese after how things went down last season…. Other moves from the Sky in the coming weeks might help mollify the fans — but a lack of them might get them even more upset. This grade could end up being too low if the eventual return on this deal is substantial — but if it’s not, the grade could be too high.”

Currently, the Dream now have three players under contract in Reese, forward Taylor Thierry, and guard Te-Hina Paopao. Reese did not sign a new contract with this trade, so Atlanta has a club option for the 2027 season before she becomes a restricted free agent in 2028.

Netting a pair of first-round draft picks, whether they are expected to be high or not, is great value for Reese. Atlanta has the 13th pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to get a sense of where those picks may be. However, with the WNBA free agency class approaching this week, that can significantly change. It will be intriguing to see how those draft picks and Reese plays in Atlanta to see who actually won this trade.