“That was my biggest goal in life”: How Angel Reese turned her first WNBA home into a $1.45M property after a $1.28M purchase in Illinois after her move

Angel Reese’s first WNBA home is back on the market for $1.45 million, more than a year after she purchased the Lemont, Illinois, property for $1.28 million. The five-bedroom home became part of Reese’s story shortly after she entered the WNBA, when homeownership was one of the milestones she celebrated alongside a much bigger family goal.The latest listing comes after Reese’s move from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream and during a season in which she has added several major WNBA records to her name. The property, which was first reported as heading for a $1.45 million listing in June, has since returned to the market in September.Angel Reese’s “Retire My Momma” goal was tied to a bigger family milestoneReese’s Lemont home was more than her first major property purchase. Around the same period, she had already achieved a personal goal involving her mother, Angel Webb Reese.In January 2025, Reese surprised her mother during an episode of her Unapologetically Angel show by revealing that she had paid off her mortgage. Reese told her mother she could retire if she wanted.“Before we sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ you said that if your mortgage was paid off that you would retire or you won't work,” Reese said during the surprise. “You can pick if you want to work still, your mortgage today has been paid.”Reese later explained just how important the gesture was to her.“That was my biggest goal in life to retire you and pay your mortgage or whatever you wanted not to work,” she told her mother. Reese also added, “You're a hard-working woman, you don't need me for no money. That's why I always say, ‘She never needed me for no money.’”Her mother, who was visibly emotional during the surprise, responded, “Are you serious?” Reese then told her that the mortgage had been taken care of and that she could continue working if she wanted.Just a few months later, Reese reached another personal milestone by buying her own home.When she celebrated the purchase on X, she posted green check emojis beside two goals: “retire my momma” and “become a homeowner.” The post came with a photo of Reese celebrating the new property.That connection gives the Lemont property a personal backstory. Reese was not simply celebrating a new house. She was also highlighting a period in which helping her mother financially and building her own future were both major goals.The home itself is located at 12735 Caruso Court on a 0.41-acre lot. Reese bought it in April 2025 through a limited liability company, according to county records.The 3,600-square-foot property has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its features include an open-concept design, a great room near the chef’s kitchen, custom window treatments and updated lighting.There is also a first-floor study, an entertainment room, a three-car garage, a lookout basement and a fully fenced backyard. One of the bathrooms includes a freestanding tub and a walk-in shower.Reese paid $1.28 million for the home. The current $1.45 million asking price is roughly $170,000 higher than the purchase price, although the listing price does not mean the property has sold for that amount.Her Chicago-to-Atlanta move came during a record-setting WNBA seasonThe home listing follows one of the biggest changes in Reese’s professional career.The Chicago Sky selected the 6-foot-4 forward with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. After two seasons in Chicago, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026. The deal included Atlanta’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, while the teams also agreed to swap second-round picks in 2028.Her first season in Atlanta has since produced a long list of individual milestones.In August, Reese was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 24 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.7 steals across three games. She followed that with another Player of the Week award in early September.During that second stretch, Reese grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds against the Los Angeles Sparks. She also passed A’ja Wilson’s previous single-season rebounding record of 451. Against the Minnesota Lynx, Reese recorded her 29th double-double of the season, setting a new WNBA single-season record.She then joined Team USA for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. The United States won the tournament, giving Reese another international gold medal to add to her résumé.After returning to Atlanta, Reese wasted little time making another entry in the record book.On Sept. 17, she scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in only 25 minutes as the Dream defeated the Connecticut Sun 103-59. She shot 11-of-14 from the field and recorded her 30th double-double of the season, extending her own WNBA single-season record.Reese also became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing 25 minutes or fewer. After the game, she explained her approach following the long break for the World Cup.“I was joking in the locker room that I'm very well-rested, and I was ready to play today,” Reese said. She added, “Right now, it's important to make sure we're setting the tone and leaving a taste in everybody's mouth about what the playoffs are going to look like.”That latest performance came nearly 18 months after Reese bought the Lemont property. The home was purchased soon after she entered the WNBA and celebrated two goals that were deeply personal to her: becoming a homeowner and helping her mother.Now, after a trade to Atlanta, a World Cup gold medal and a record-setting WNBA season, Reese’s first professional home is back on the market with a $1.45 million asking price.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.