WNBA Ticket Sales Changed Dramatically After Angel Reese Trade

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 10, 2026 12:33 PM ET

While Caitlin Clark is unlikely to ever be traded away from the Indiana Fever, her rival Angel Reese is set to play the 2026 season for the Atlanta Dream after a big trade. But while the Dream are already expecting Reese to improve their playoff roster, the extra benefits could come in the form of ticket sales.

According to StubHub, Atlanta has seen a huge spike in ticket sales in the days since the team acquired Reese. The company announced that ticket demand has skyrocketed a whopping 15 times in a single day - which is the largest single-day spike in the franchise's history.

"Atlanta Dream ticket demand spiked 15x after trading for Angel Reese, the largest single day spike in franchise history. The Angel Reese Effect is real," StubHub announced on X.

Atlanta Dream ticket demand spiked 15x after trading for Angel Reese, the largest single day spike in franchise history.

The Angel Reese Effect is real.

(: @Reese10Angel) pic.twitter.com/hH4ZJNGcP4
— StubHub (@StubHub) April 9, 2026

The Angel Reese Effect

Basketball fans were split on whether to really believe StubHub. Some looked at various pieces of evidence to suggest that the company was massaging its numbers, while fans of Reese claimed victory in the endless battle over whether she's a true star or not:

"Is this real? They told me no one cares about Reese in the wnba ? Truth is girl got motion whether you like her or (not)," one user boasted.

"15x nothing is still nothing," another wrote dismissively.

"How low was it? There still plenty of cheap tickets for games," a third mocked.

"Angel is the real deal. ATL will be the better for it and Angel will shine!"

"Don't believe the hype. That's money wasted."

"Lol no. Searches spiked because idiots online lied and said tickets were rose over $100 a piece. That's not true, prices remained under $50 after fees, and not a single game will be moved out of that high school gym they call an arena."

Sep 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) warms up before a WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Angel Reese will probably always be a polarizing player until she emerges as a truly dominating force in the WNBA . She already has the rebound game down, but her shooting simply needs to improve if she wants to reach the level of a player like A'ja Wilson or even her own teammates Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.

But in joining a team that was already one of the league's best, she could be primed for a great year.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: