Back in April, the Atlanta Dream pulled off a high-profile trade that brought in the league’s top rebounder, Angel Reese, in return for two first-round picks. Even though she has struggled since joining the team, it sounds like the team is happy to have her.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Atlanta Dream Team President Morgan Shaw Parker opened up a bit about the trade as she revealed that there was “a party in the office” after the trade went through.
Shaw Parker went on to praise Reese for everything that she brings to the team, even aside from her on-court contributions. She went as far as to say that Reese “transcends basketball.”
“Her persona, her style of play, and what she brings from a cultural perspective, and her personality just fit right in here,” Shaw Parker told Sports Illustrated. “We all know that Angel brings a completely different level of cultural significance to this team. I think she transcends basketball. … I’m really excited to see the future together with all of our players, including Angel, here.”
Reese has gotten off to a rocky start to her time with the Atlanta Dream, as she currently leads the league in turnovers and was benched midway through Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Aces. However, Shaw Parker made it clear that Atlanta is excited about Reese as a person, not just what she brings on the court.
“She really is someone who lifts up others, and she wants to be lifted herself,” Shaw Parker says. “She’s young, she’s hungry, she wants to be coached, and she wants to be supported. And I think Atlanta, from [coach] Karl Smesko to that core group of players surrounding her, she knew she would have that.”
Shaw Parker thinks that Reese can help make the team and the community proud, both on the court and off.
“Yes, we want a championship ring, we want to host a trophy, but we want to be a championship organization, both on the court and in the office as well, and in the community,” Shaw Parker says about Atlanta. “Our fans show out like nothing I’ve ever seen. … It’s just a really special atmosphere that comes to life in only the way that the Dream know how to do it.”
It’s clear that Atlanta supports Reese, even if she has been struggling to begin her time with the team.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.