The 2026 WNBA season opened with major storylines around Angel Reese’s Atlanta debut and the league’s media-access debate. Angel Reese made her Atlanta Dream regular-season debut in a 91-90 win over the Minnesota Lynx, recording 11 points and 14 rebounds; CBS Atlanta reported she also picked up a first-quarter technical foul.
ESPN reporter Ben Baby criticized the WNBA’s closed locker-room policy on social media, drawing backlash and debate online. These two stories tell us a lot about where women’s basketball stands right now.
The trade that shook the league
The Chicago Sky sent Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026 in one of the most talked-about trades in recent WNBA history. Atlanta gave up two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 to land the 23-year-old star. That is a steep price, but it signals just how much the Dream believes in her potential to deliver a championship.
Reese averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game across 64 career appearances with the Sky. She also led the league in double-doubles during the 2025 season with 23. The Chicago Sky officially confirmed the trade on April 6, 2026, calling it “designed to achieve roster balance” and “a great opportunity for all parties.”
A fresh start in Atlanta
Reese’s move to Atlanta was about more than just changing jerseys. The Sky missed the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025, going just 1-13 without Reese last season. She needed a winning environment, and she found one. The Dream finished 2025 at 30-14, tied with Las Vegas for the second-best record in the league and listed as the No. 3 playoff seed.
Dream general manager Dan Padover called Reese a “perfect fit” for what Atlanta is building. Teammates like All-Star guard Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard give Reese proven scoring options alongside her. ESPN reported that Reese did not request the trade but worked closely with the Sky to find a new home that felt right.
A debut full of drama
Reese made her first regular-season appearance for the Dream on May 9, 2026, against the Minnesota Lynx. The game was tight from the start. The Lynx entered as one of the favorites for the title and were not going to make things easy for the new-look Dream.
The drama began quickly. Reese earned a technical foul in the first quarter for arguing with an official over a foul call. It was a rough moment, but it did not derail her performance. She finished the game with 14 rebounds and made a last-second defensive play to contest a potential go-ahead layup. The Mirror reported that Atlanta held on for a thrilling 91-90 win.
Little-known fact: Reese’s cousin Jordan Hawkins won the 2023 NCAA men’s title with UConn the day after she won the women’s title with LSU. Two family members. Two national championships. Twenty-four hours apart
Honesty after the final buzzer
Despite the win, Reese admitted the night was far from smooth. She struggled with her shooting efficiency and was candid about it after the game. Still, her openness with the media won her fans even among those who had doubted the trade. It showed a maturity that her critics rarely acknowledge.
“It was rough for me tonight, but this is what you call a team,” Reese said postgame. “Being able to have players that have your back and always pick you up, even when you’re not having the best game.” Even so, her team’s belief in her clearly lifted her spirits. The Comeback noted that Reese later admitted that offensive struggles are personally difficult for her to process.
The record books already know her name
Whatever critics say about Reese’s shooting touch, her rebounding dominance is beyond debate. The Dream’s official release says Reese is the only player in WNBA history to average at least 12.0 rebounds per game in a season, doing so in each of her first two seasons. Reese set multiple early-career rebounding records; ESPN lists her No. 1 and No. 2 on the WNBA single-season rebounds-per-game list.
Reese recorded four straight games with 15 or more rebounds in 2025. That is a feat that had never been done before in league history. ESPN confirmed her career averages of 13.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per game across her first two WNBA seasons. The numbers speak for themselves.
The tweet that lit a fire
On the same weekend Reese debuted, ESPN reporter Ben Baby dropped a tweet that exploded online. Baby, who primarily covers the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, called the WNBA’s closed locker room media policy “wholly ridiculous.” He argued it was the only major American sport without open locker room access and said it hurt the league’s growth.
The response online was swift and intense. Fans fired back, arguing that male reporters seeking access to a women’s locker room raised serious privacy concerns. One user wrote, “Let the ladies change their clothes first. The questions about turnovers can wait.” The Mirror US covered the fan outrage extensively, quoting multiple pointed responses directed at Baby.
Fun fact: Reese wore No. 10 in college but switched to No. 5 in the WNBA. She said the number symbolized a fresh new beginning for her.
A debate with real stakes
“The WNBA has moved away from open locker-room access; current 2026 policies provide press conferences and additional player interviews rather than open locker rooms. Media can request individual player access after games, but cannot enter the locker room itself. Supporters of the policy say it protects athlete privacy and creates a genuine safe space for women athletes. Critics say it limits storytelling and media coverage that could help the league grow.
Awful Announcing reported that former ESPN host Jemele Hill publicly backed Baby’s position. She argued that locker room access helps build the player-reporter relationship that produces the best storytelling. Others pushed back hard, pointing to the gender dynamics involved when male reporters enter female athletes’ private spaces.
What this season could mean
The 2026 WNBA season opened amid heightened attention following record-setting 2024 and 2025 viewership growth. The Dream’s opening-night win over a championship contender set a strong tone. Reese’s performance showed both her ceiling and the areas she still needs to develop offensively. The league is watching closely.
Hudson Valley Sports Report noted that Atlanta did not give up two first-round picks to settle for first-round playoff exits. The pressure on Reese and the Dream is real and mutual. If she plays to her full potential this season, Atlanta will enter 2026 as a serious contender after a 30-win 2025 season and the addition of Reese.
TL;DR
- Angel Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026 for two first-round picks.
- She is a two-time All-Star and the only player in WNBA history to average 12+ rebounds per game in back-to-back seasons.
- Reese earned a technical foul in the first quarter of her Dream debut but helped Atlanta win 91-90 over the Minnesota Lynx.
- She admitted the game was personally tough for her, but praised her teammates for carrying her through.
- ESPN reporter Ben Baby called the WNBA’s closed locker room policy “wholly ridiculous” on the same weekend.
- His tweet sparked a fierce online backlash centered on athlete privacy and gender dynamics.
- Jemele Hill publicly supported Baby’s view, citing the value of locker room access for sports journalism.
- The 2026 WNBA season is shaping up as the most-watched and debated in recent memory.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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