Life at the Atlanta Dream has gotten off to a rocky start for Angel Reese after her new teammates used their first press conference to playfully ‘cook’ the new recruit.
Reese, who was traded from the Chicago Sky this month, sat by as Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon took turns recounting memories playing against her.
Rhyne Howard kicked off the roasting session by highlighting her own statistical dominance whenever she faced off against the former Sky star.
‘Any time Angel’s been on the other side of the court I think I had 30,’ Howard noted with a smirk, drawing laughs from the assembled media.
The critique didn’t stop there, as Naz Hillmon was even more direct in her assessment of Reese. ‘Angel’s annoying as hell,’ Hillmon stated bluntly.
Allisha Gray added to the awkward atmosphere by taking shots at the Chicago Sky’s defense from their previous encounters.
Angel Reese was playfully ripped into by some of her new Atlanta Dream teammates
‘I loved playing against Chicago because I had my best games,’ Gray added, twisting the knife regarding the Sky’s struggles before the trade.
Reese appeared to take the verbal jabs in her stride during the sit-down and laughed along with her new teammates and the assembled media.
Later in the press conference, she fought back tears describing the new ‘sisterhood’ that welcomed her.
‘Being able to come to an organization that really cared about their players, just being able to see a GM that really wanted me and knew what my talents are.
‘Being able to talk to players that genuinely know what I am and who I am as a person, but also as a player, is like a breath of fresh air,’ Reese said on Friday.
‘It lowkey makes me emotional because I haven’t had this and I’m really grateful and I’m really looking forward to the start.’
New Dream star Reese appeared to take the comments in her stride at the press conference
Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones, Naz Hillmon, Jordin Canada, Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard hold up their jerseys
Reese said she’s ‘grateful’ for her time in Chicago, but noted that she ultimately ‘wanted more.’
Reese was drafted by the Sky with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft – the same class as former No. 1 pick and her longtime rival, Caitlin Clark – after leading LSU to the 2023 National Championship.
The two-time All-Star recorded 49 career double-doubles while averaging 14.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game throughout her first two seasons in the league with the Sky.
She also earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2024 after setting WNBA rookie records for rebounds per game (13.1) and consecutive double-doubles (15).
