The Atlanta Dream are the only team left in the WNBA yet to take a second loss on the season, sitting at 4-1. Atlanta holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference and has offered a different level of energy that fans cannot help but notice, with a lot of credit being due to the early-season performance of Angel Reese. The star may not offer a high shooting percentage, but there has been an incredible level of production that isn't always showing up in the box score.
Watching Reese, you can see the intensity with which the star plays on both ends, and it has had an obvious impact. It is the type of ferocity that has often garnered comparisons to NBA star Draymond Green, due to the rebounding, defensive effort, and willingness to welcome any back-and-forth. This is the exact type of edge and outlook the Dream have been missing, and this is why Reese deserves a lot of credit for the hot start.
Reese is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks, evidencing the ability to push the game in Atlanta's direction even when the shooting numbers haven't been there. This is an undeniably frustrating part of the star's game, with the efficiency being the final piece holding Reese back from becoming one of the league's elite.
Dream Must Credit Angel Reese for Team's Hot Start to 2026 Season
Still, even with the less-than-stellar numbers shooting, there isn't any denying that Reese jumps off the screen when watching this team. It has changed the energy and intensity around a franchise that appeared to be stuck in neutral in recent seasons. Reese is not only a household name for fans to put their arms around, but a player who has had positive fallout when it comes to teammates.
Defense is catching, and Reese is proving this by leveling up the effort of the team. Another piece of Atlanta's hot start has been the scoring of Allisha Gray, with the guard taking a jump from last year's 18.4 points-per-game offering 21.8 in her first five games of the season.
The Dream simply can no longer be overlooked or underrated in an increasingly popular league, with much of this being due to the presence of Reese. The star's clear defensive ability and intensity helped bring in a new generation of fans who can now sit back and enjoy watching Atlanta race out to a stellar start that has established them as a clear early-season contender and reminded the league of just how impactful Reese can be, no matter the scoring numbers.
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