Angel Reese has been talking about taking control of her destiny.
asserted
Reese → talk → destiny
With the Atlanta Dream preparing for the WNBA Finals, things have worked out pretty well for her.
asserted
things → prepare → her
But OutKick wanted to know what, exactly, she meant by that.
asserted
she → want → that
Earlier this week, Reese told WSB-TV about "taking control of your destiny" and said, "I wanted to come to Atlanta."
asserted
I → tell → Atlanta
Those comments got people talking about how she ended up there, particularly the question of whether she forced her way out of Chicago.
asserted
she → get → Chicago
Accounts sharing the interview clip mocked the defense that Reese never requested a trade and didn’t "run from the grind."
asserted
Reese → share → grind
There’s a difference between formally asking for a trade and making your dissatisfaction known, and Reese had certainly done the latter.
asserted
Reese → ’ → latter
Reese has blocked me on social media, so I’m probably not her first choice for this conversation.
asserted
I → block → conversation
I’ve written critically about her and, even more often, her fawning media fans.
asserted
I → write → her
This was an opportunity to hear her explanation in person.
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This → hear → person
So, during Friday’s WNBA Finals media availability, I asked her directly: "What role did you play in the trade?
asserted
you → ask → trade
"
"I mean, they..."
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I → mean → ?
Reese began before trailing off, looking away, and pausing for about three seconds.
asserted
Reese → begin → seconds
"I was being traded," she continued after the false start, turning her eyes back to me.
asserted
she → trade → me
"And I found out I was being traded, and luckily enough, I was able to work with Chicago and where I wanted to go.
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I → find → Chicago
And Atlanta also wanted me, so it made sense for both of us.
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it → want → us
And I’m happy just to be here.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
Watching her answer, it seemed like she was being very cautious about what she wanted to say.
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she → watch → what
She acknowledged helping choose the destination, but began by describing the trade as something happening to her.
asserted
She → acknowledge → her
Chicago went from trading up for Reese to trading her away
It still seems strange that the Sky were looking to trade Reese in the first place, given how much Chicago invested in her.
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Chicago → go → her
The Sky traded up from No. 8 to No. 7 in the 2024 draft to select Reese.
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Sky → trade → Reese
The deal included sending Minnesota a 2025 second-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks in 2026.
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deal → include → 2026
That 2026 pick became an expensive part of the story.
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pick → become → story
In a separate trade the following year, Minnesota acquired Chicago’s first-rounder outright in exchange for the No. 11 pick in the 2025 draft.
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Minnesota → acquire → draft
The Lynx eventually used Chicago’s selection on Olivia Miles, this season’s unanimous Rookie of the Year.
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Lynx → use → Year
Then, after two seasons with Reese, Chicago traded her to Atlanta for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.
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Chicago → trade → 2027
The organization went from spending draft capital to make sure it got Reese to deciding it would rather have future picks than keep her.
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it → go → her
So, what happened in between?
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what → happen → ?
Well, for one thing, Reese publicly criticized the roster.
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Reese → criticize → roster
"We have to get good players.
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We → have → players
We have to get great players.
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We → have → players
That’s a non-negotiable for me," she told the Chicago Tribune in September 2025.
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she → ’ → September
She also said she wanted to spend her career in Chicago, "but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me."
uncertain
what → say → me
The Sky suspended her for half a game over comments they called "detrimental to the team."
asserted
they → suspend → team
Reese said she apologized to her teammates.
asserted
she → say → teammates
She never played another game for the Sky, remaining sidelined with a back injury after serving the half-game suspension.
asserted
She → play → suspension
Chicago traded her the following April.
asserted
Chicago → trade → her
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews reported when the trade was announced, citing unnamed sources, that Reese hadn’t requested a trade and that there was "no contention" between the two sides.
asserted
Reese → report → sides
Chicago, according to that account, worked with her representatives to find a new home.
uncertain
Chicago → accord → home
That’s a pretty favorable version of events for Reese.
asserted
That → ’ → Reese
…and 39 more, not listed.
The Aporia
