Proper earlier than the beginning of the season, the Atlanta Dream pulled off probably the most stunning transactions in current WNBA historical past.
Buying former Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was considerably stunning, however she’s been a seamless match of their system.
Watching a younger and struggling staff just like the Sky hand over on a possible star simply after two years was a bit stunning.
That is why, after a few months to course of all the pieces, Reese lastly shared her facet of the story earlier than the sport vs. the Dallas Wings, explaining why she truly needed to play for the Dream.
Angel Reese needed to play for Karl Smesko
“ final 12 months and the success they’d below one 12 months with Karl [Smesko],” Reese told the media (h/t Meghan L. Corridor). “I watched Karl when he was with FGCU, and after I was at Maryland, I performed in opposition to him. I used to be simply seeing how the participant improvement was for him and the way he developed Naz [Hillmon] in a single 12 months, and the way I needed that.”
The Dream took an enormous leap final season below Smesko. Brionna Jones and Hillmon made large strides as three-level scorers, and now that they’ve acquired among the finest rebounders the sport has ever seen, this staff ought to be a power to be reckoned with.
“Simply having the ability to discover someplace that matches with me. I knew off the courtroom this was going to be the place for me. On the courtroom, I needed to do one thing to assist a staff get to the championship as a result of I’ve gained at each stage, and I wish to win a WNBA championship it doesn’t matter what it appears like for me,” added Reese.
Reese clearly nonetheless must work on a number of facets of her sport, particularly ending and her handles, so taking part in for a coach with a knack for participant improvement can work wonders for her.
Nonetheless, even with some obtrusive holes in her sport, she’s a dominant inside presence, a bodily rebounder and probably the most versatile defensive gamers within the sport.
Even when she by no means develops a constant layup package deal or ending expertise, her defensive prowess will nonetheless make her a beneficial asset on the courtroom.
