Angel Reese is already transforming the Atlanta Dream. Following her preseason debut against Chicago, head coach Karl Smesko detailed how the star forward is expanding her range to become a versatile offensive threat.

“She's gonna be all over the floor. The stuff that we have to like unify her in different positions,” said Smesko during a recent conference. “Angel just had a huge impact. She was willing to shoot the three, she drove, and she got offensive rebounds.”

In just 13 minutes in the pre-season game, Reese helped the Dream secure an 87-78 victory over her old team, the Sky. Though her numbers weren’t over the top yet, the coach highlighted that she’s on the right path.

Reese was “making all kinds of defensive plays, (and) was on the boards.” But the coach also seemed keen on exploring Reese’s offensive prowess while he was trying to figure out the team’s score creation, transition and coordination.

Averaging 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds last season, she’s the two-way player who can thoroughly elevate the Dream’s game. And per Smesko, Dream can make those situations work.

While Smesko mapped out Reese’s game, the player also had much to say about her coach.

Angel Reese Opened Up About Karl Smesko

“My experience with Karl has been amazing,” said Reese. “We work at it every day before practice, about me shooting and keeping my shot on target and everything. And I can tell the difference. Even my misses look like makes, and they're close enough.”

The “great things” Smesko had been doing with Reese also included “sitting down individually (with her).” He had been “getting on” her, holding her “accountable for every single possession.” And Reese couldn’t have asked for any better.

The Dream takes on the Washington Mystics for their next game on May 4.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar