Angel Reese is settling in nicely with the Atlanta Dream.
Since her offseason move from the Chicago Sky, the two-time All-Star is on pace for her third straight rebounding crown, sits tied for the WNBA lead in double-doubles (10), and has been instrumental in the Dream's fourth-ranked defense.
In her most recent appearance, Reese became the fastest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, accomplishing the feat in just her 79th game.
Reese says she's enjoying playing for second-year head coach Karl Smesko, describing him as a "girl dad" who often lightens the mood with his "corny jokes." His analytical approach is different from what Reese is accustomed to, but it's allowed her to see the game through another lens.
"It makes me be uncomfortable and find ways to grow in different areas," Reese told theScore of Smesko's coaching philosophy. "It's been great. I've been enjoying it. He surprises me all the time with new things to learn about my game. … He's a mastermind about the game. He really loves it."
Smesko's affinity for Reese's playing style dates back to his collegiate coaching days. The Ohio native was at the helm of Florida Gulf Coast during the 2022 NCAA Tournament when he first squared off against Reese's Maryland squad. In that matchup, Reese put up 21 points, nine boards, and two assists in 21 minutes, propelling the Terrapins to a 89-65 win.
Smesko remembers Reese's relentlessness on the glass, as she continually found ways to grab rebounds despite multiple players trying to box her out. Even then, the 13-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year believed Reese was the best offensive rebounder he'd ever seen.
"She has instincts, and she has athleticism. But you can have that and not get rebounds if you don't have the desire to go after it," Smesko told reporters, including theScore, during the club's recent visit to Toronto. "She wants to get the ball, so she goes after it, and she's willing to fight for every rebound."
Reese's offensive rebounding prowess has been a key addition to an already lethal attack. Atlanta is tied for first in points in the paint (43.2 per game), second in second-chance points (13.9), and sixth in threes made (9.2) league-wide.
The 24-year-old continues to do most of her damage around the basket, driving aggressively to the rim, cutting, and cleaning up missed shots for putbacks. Her ability to generate extra possessions benefits her teammates, too, as she frequently sets them up for clean kickout threes.
However, it isn't just 3-pointers that have increased in Smesko's offensive system; the team's pace has also ramped up. Atlanta's averaging a WNBA-leading 13.1 fast-break points, up 3.9 points from the previous year. The Dream are capitalizing on Reese's point forward skills, allowing her to push the tempo after snagging a defensive rebound. Her combination of ball-handling skills and court vision enables her to go coast-to-coast or feed others upcourt in transition.
Angel coast to coasttttt pic.twitter.com/PkR8KbjWm9
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) May 23, 2026
Prior to the season, Reese spoke with Smesko about deploying her as a point forward to give Atlanta more versatility. Initially a point guard before a growth spurt in middle school, the 6-foot-4 forward embraces her unique abilities.
"You usually don't see somebody (my size) bringing the ball down and just start playmaking. So, just kind of normalizing that," Reese said. "I've watched (Alyssa Thomas). She's done a lot of great things in the league as a point forward. ... Just trying to continue to do things like that and just trying to find ways to help the team."
With the Dream's defense built on making opponents feel uncomfortable and feasting on miscues, Reese is also fitting in seamlessly on that end of the floor. Atlanta boasts the league's top steal leaders in Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada, and now it has another disruptor in Reese, who's averaging 1.3 steals per game.
The two-time SEC All-Defensive team selection has a knack for the ball, utilizing her length to make deflections and instincts to jump passing lanes. Reese's sharp understanding of other players' tendencies lets her time her steals perfectly.
Versatile enough to adequately defend all five positions, Reese has the agility to contain guards on switches and force contested shots. Though she doesn't rack up a ton of blocks, she makes bigs maneuver around her length. The Maryland native's physicality and high motor also allow her to mix it up down low, and her control of the defensive glass ignites the Dream's transition attack and denies the opposing team additional scoring opportunities.
Reese's fingerprints have been all over Atlanta's continued defensive success this year. The Dream lead the WNBA in steals (9.5), give up the fewest points in clutch time (4.2), sit second in points off turnovers (18.4), and are allowing the fourth-fewest second-chance points (10.2). They're also surrendering 3.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when Reese is on the court.
"I've always loved defense. ... (Smesko) pushes you really hard to be better every single day," Reese said. "He's very strategic on how he likes things done, and you do it that way."
Reese added: "I think I can do a better job in my ball-screen coverages. Watching it on film every day with him and the rest of my coaches has been great. He's picked our brains a lot and is just still figuring out how we can be the best."
The Dream brought in Reese to help them get over the hump, and they look the part of a title contender following an 11-4 start.
Although Atlanta won a franchise-record 30 games last season, it suffered a third straight opening-round playoff exit. The club has won only one postseason series since being swept by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2013 WNBA Finals.
After being a part of the Dream's past two postseason shortcomings, Canada senses a different vibe in the locker room now that Reese is in the fold.
"I think she adds that attitude, that grit we were kind of missing," Canada, a two-time WNBA champ, told theScore. "Any time she steps on the floor, her energy just speaks for itself, and I think it radiates throughout the whole team. She's just a dog offensively and defensively, and I think she adds that spark to our team."
