Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese has taken rookie Madina Okot under her wing as Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull continue to bond away from the court
Angel Reese has taken teammate Madina Okot under her wing(Image: Getty Images)
With the 2026 WNBA campaign slated to kick off in two weeks, stars across the league are working hard to build chemistry both on and off the court.
During media availability at the Dream’s training camp opener, rookie Madina Okot revealed that Angel Reese has swiftly welcomed her into the fold as both players settle into their new roles in Atlanta.
The WNBA landscape shifted dramatically earlier this month when Atlanta orchestrated a blockbuster deal to bring Reese over from the Sky. The Dream parted with their 2027 and 2028 first-round selections in the transaction, additionally securing second-round pick swap rights with Chicago for 2028.
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Among her initial priorities in Atlanta, Reese has made certain that Okot feels welcomed in her new environment. The South Carolina alum was selected by the Dream at No. 13 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, earning immediate endorsement from the two-time All-Star.
Taking to social media, Reese wrote: “YAY! MADINA!!! Another walking double-double!! LET’S GOOOO!!!”
Below, Mirror U.S. Sports looks at Okot’s response and the biggest stories from the past 24 hours around the WNBA.
A shoulder to lean on
Okot was drafted by the Atlanta Dream with the No. 13 overall pick(Image: Getty Images)
Since being drafted in the first round by the Dream, Okot revealed that Reese and her teammates have helped smooth her adjustment to the WNBA.
“For everybody that has been here, for everybody that has been able to watch the few practice sessions that we’ve had and the meetings that we’ve had, that is so evident. They’re so caring,” Okot said. “They keep asking if I’m okay. They keep asking if I have any questions. Reese is around me, trying to ask me if I need anything, if I understand everything the coaches are saying, and she is willing to explain it to me.”
Over two seasons at Mississippi State and South Carolina, Okot averaged 12.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists. Before stepping onto the court alongside Reese, the 21-year-old meticulously analyzed her playing style after discovering basketball just six years earlier.
“I’ve been watching her since I was in high school,” Okot told BBC. “I know she’s going to be like a sister to me. She’s going to teach me so many things. “My goals are to keep growing my game and to learn from experienced players.”
Fever double dates
Lexie Hull and Caitlin Clark have developed a strong relationship away from basketball(Image: Getty Images)
Fever star guard Lexie Hull shared that it didn’t take long for her and Caitlin Clark to develop a close bond. This offseason, the restricted free agent and Indiana agreed to terms on a two-year, $1.6 million contract — a significant rise from the sub-$90,000 salary she earned last season.
Addressing her relationship with Clark, Hull told reporters: “We connected the first day she got to Indiana, even on draft night. I think I reached out and was so excited that she was coming. I think from that moment on there was just an immediate friendship.”
Given how close they live to each other, Hull and Clark frequently go on double dates with their respective partners. “With her being in Indiana during the offseason and her and her boyfriend and me and my fiance Will, it’s been an easy double date situation,” Hull explained.
Though Clark may be the face of the WNBA, Hull asserted that she does an incredible job of blocking out the outside noise while instilling a positive culture inside the Fever building. “She’s a great role model but more than anything, having her as a friend has been really great,” the 26-year-old continued.
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‘What makes it so special for the team is everyone’s enjoying their time coming to work. I’ve been on teams in seasons where everyone’s kind of walking on eggshells. You don’t want to act goofy because you want to be serious, you want people to feel locked in.
“But I think we’ve been able to create a culture where you can come in and be yourself and be silly and be goofy at the same time, performing at your highest. I think people perform their best when they’re their happiest, and that’s showing up every day exactly how you are without having to kind of subdue your silliness.
“I enjoy my job so much and first couple of years in the W, I don’t think I could have said that as confidently. Everyone’s excited to hang out, so I’m really grateful to have a friend like that and, and be able to relate on so many things. But again, she’s probably the queen of the silly and the goofy. We’re really lucky to have her.”