Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Angel Reese gets a fresh start and more WNBA notes

The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for consecutive first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 which probably won’t be any good. Luckily for them, they’ve made moves and have assembled a respectable roster since, bringing in Azurá Stevens (who was with their 2021 title team), DiJonai Carrington, Skylar Diggins and Jacy Sheldon.

Imagine if they had been a competent organization in the previous two years, but better late than never, even if it comes after losing a star like Reese.

Landing with Dream means that she is going to a contending team, and she could be the piece to put them over the top. She’s the most prolific rebounder in WNBA history and is a big factor on defense. Reese’s efficiency numbers don’t jump off the page for last season (45.8), but her numbers are skewed by her poor start to the year before her massive turnaround. Consider how she had the highest assist average (3.7) on the team after Courtney Vandersloot’s right ACL tear, and the next best playmakers on the team were Ariel Atkins, who is decent, and Rachel Banham, who wouldn’t get many minutes on a contender.

Now Reese, who expanded her game last season by playing more on-ball, should see even more improvement in her playmaking next to the options like Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Breonna Jones after almost doubling her average in her second year. The other area she could see enhanced is scoring as a roller. 

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The rich get richer

The New York Liberty have made fine use of the new CBA money being spent in WNBA free agency by keeping the powerhouse that is Jonquel Jones next to Sabrina Ionescu (intends to re-sign) and two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, while signing Satou Sabally to be the fourth star.

Teams around the W are already scrambling to scheme up a way to deal with that much talent when they start playing heavy minutes in the playoffs. On top of that, strength is one of the biggest advantages a player could have, and the Liberty were not lacking it in Jones and Stewart, who can power down hill or finesse their way to the cup. Sabally adds another athletic, big and strong scorer.

The team’s complimentary shooters, and Ionescu will be in heaven because defenses primarily overload the lane at the expense of the arc.

Quick hits:

• UConn’s Azzi Fudd went first in the Monday’s WNBA draft, and three members of UCLA’s championship team were taken in the top nine (Lauren Betts 4th to the Washington Mystics, Gabriela Jaquez 5th to the Chicago Sky and Angela Dugalić 9th also to the Mystics).

• Dominique Malonga should be on everyone’s radar for the Most Improved Player award, even if she was last season’s second overall pick. Noelle Quinn, who was canned as coach after last season’s disappointment, and didn’t play Malonga nearly enough when she was an impactful defender against most matchups. Meanwhile, lesser talented rookies played more minutes on other teams. Things will be different under coach Sonia Raman.