Back in Chicago, Angel Reese reflects on Sky, new start with Dream
CHICAGO — Angel Reese was fully unbothered as she stood alongside the baseline inside Wintrust Arena at Wednesday morning’s shootaround. Now a member of the Atlanta Dreamthe two-time All-Star had no exhausting or unusual emotions about being again in the constructing that was his basketball house for the primary two years of his skilled profession.
The solely uncomfortable half was heading to the guests locker room.
“Coming back to a familiar place feels great,” Reese mentioned. “I have a home here still. So, it’s always good seeing Chicago. … So, I’m happy to be back and obviously be in a familiar place that I’ve done a lot of great things here.
“I’m nonetheless glad. I’m grateful for my time right here in Chicago. I skilled plenty of nice issues, however I’m simply glad to start this new journey. Being capable of be with the Dream right here. It feels awkward being in a unique locker room when I’m so used to being in the opposite locker room. But I’m actually grateful. I’m grateful, and I’m trying ahead to this new start.”
Reese and the rest of the Dream went through the workout wearing black T-shirts with star guard Rhyne Howard‘s face on the front in commemoration of her birthday. The team sang the traditional and Stevie Wonder versions of ‘Happy Birthday’ at the end of practice.
In two years with the Sky, Reese led the league in rebounds per game in both seasons and averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds. The team traded her for 2 future first-round picks earlier this month after the connection soured when Reese was publicly critical of the roster makeup late final season. The team suspended her for a halfhowever she by no means performed once more after Sept. 3 due to harm and a league suspension for technical fouls.
“I assumed it was simply greatest for me to maneuver on, and I assumed it was useful for each of us,” Reese said. “I’m grateful for Chicago for placing me in a state of affairs the place I may come someplace that I actually wished and other people that actually wished me. So, I’m simply grateful to show the web page. No love misplaced. And I’m simply actually grateful and glad to be right here.
“I think it’s a part of my journey. Just being able to have, [at] this point for me, and being able to grow from it. And I’m just really happy to have this opportunity where Atlanta really wanted me to come in and find ways to help them, and them to help me. I’ve been happy every day. I’ve shown all 32 teeth every single day.”
Late in the shootaround, Reese took shot after shot from past the arc as she works to extend her range. Dream coach Karl Smesko likes to play up-tempo and create loads of 3-point makes an attempt. The 6-foot-3 ahead could also be identified for his inside abilities, however the staff plans to have him on the perimeter as properly.
“We’re all pouring into her, and she’s pouring into us,” Howard mentioned. “But we’re making sure that she still understands that she can go score and go do other things outside of, like, rebounding. She’s down there working on 3s now. We expect that from her this year, and just a ton of other stuff along with playmaking, setting good ball screens. And we’re just making sure that she feels comfortable.”
