Angel Reese dished out a friendly warning shot to Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings less than a week after her blockbuster trade to the Atlanta Dream.
Both players made headlines after they suited up for Team USA earlier this year. But it appears the competitive gene between the two, after a brief stint as teammates, has been reactivated, well before the start of the 2026 WNBA season.
Angel Reese’s Warning to Paige Bueckers Ahead of the 2026 WNBA Season
Per ESPN, both Reese and Bueckers engaged in some fun banter when they appeared for an event. When talking about the competition and the friendly rivalry between the two, the UConn alum said “it was all love” between the two stars.
“That’s the best part about competition and friendship. You bring out the best in each other, and we want each other to succeed.” She further added, “We’ve been opponents too; we went 0-3 against the Chicago Sky.”
To which Reese responded, “It’s okay, she’s gonna go 0-3 against Atlanta.” This drew a loud cheer from the audience.
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Atlanta landed the two-time WNBA All-Star from the Sky in exchange for two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. The deal also gives the Dream the right to swap second-round draft picks with the Sky in 2028.
While her WNBA career with the Sky started on a promising note, the franchise has seen two forgettable seasons. There was ample drama in the final stretch of last year’s regular season, with the team suspending Reese for her comments, in which she took a shot at the front office and the roster construction.
The Dream will greatly benefit from a double-double metronome in Reese. The former LSU standout ended her 2025 season averaging 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. With Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard in the fold, Reese now has a shot at the playoffs for the first time in her WNBA career.
As for Bueckers, the guard was one of the bright spots for the Wings last year. She averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists in 36 regular-season games. Her game is expected to improve after her offseason was spent with the national team.
Dallas endured a rough run last season, finishing with a 10-34 record, the same as Reese and the Sky.
Speaking to Self earlier this month, Bueckers spoke of her change in mindset after her rookie season in the league. “Last year, it was tough because I had to deal with not having a successful winning season and being a part of a rebuild. It doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve learned not to be result-driven and still be consistent and disciplined in who I am, regardless of the results.”
Only time will tell if Reese and Bueckers can have an impressive season when the WNBA begins in May 2026.
