Angel Reese Leads Atlanta Dream to WNBA Finals Victory
ATLANTA – Angel Reese played a key role in helping the Atlanta Dream secure their first win in a WNBA Finals game on Monday. Just two nights later, she contributed to the team’s first lead in the series.
In a commanding performance, Reese scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, guiding Atlanta to a 97-71 victory over the Golden State Valkyries at State Farm Arena, thus taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Finals series. Over the two victories, Reese has amassed a total of 51 points and 28 rebounds.
Reese enters the record books as the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to achieve 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, sharing this accomplishment with A’ja Wilson.
It’s worth noting, I had my doubts about whether Atlanta fans would fill State Farm Arena for the Finals, but they certainly proved me wrong. Wednesday’s Game 3 was a sellout, and the atmosphere was vibrant.
Before the game began, both teams once again opted not to participate in the national anthem, marking a third consecutive absence in this series. They returned shortly after the anthem concluded, this decision seems to have raised some eyebrows, especially since the WNBA rulebook suggests players should stand and line up during the anthem. The league hasn’t provided any comments regarding this situation.
When the game kicked off, Reese immediately made her presence felt, scoring Atlanta’s first basket and finishing the opening quarter with eight points, including a three-pointer that extended the Dream’s lead to 22-12. Golden State struggled initially, missing their first eight shots and failing to make a field goal until four minutes and thirty-eight seconds were left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 at the end of the quarter.
Reese continued her strong performance in the second quarter, sinking another three-pointer and ending the first half with 15 points—mirroring her first-half score from Game 2. Naz Hillmon also contributed with three first-half threes, allowing Atlanta to head into halftime with a 46-40 advantage.
The Valkyries looked to bounce back at the start of the third quarter when Cecilia Zandalasini quickly hit two three-pointers, tying the game at 48 and again at 49. However, Reese helped reinstate Atlanta’s lead, scoring two free throws, assisting on an Isobel Borlase layup, and then scoring on a running layup to complete an 8-0 run that brought the score to 57-49.
Although Golden State narrowed the deficit to four, Atlanta maintained their momentum even after Reese sat out with three minutes and thirty-one seconds left in the quarter. DeWanna Bonner initiated a 12-2 run, scoring five points during that surge.
By the time the fourth quarter started, Atlanta was leading 71-57, and Golden State never posed a significant threat in the final period.
Hillmon recorded 15 points in total, while Jordin Canada added eight assists. Rhyne Howard also stepped up with her best offensive game of the series, contributing 16 points.
Defensively, Atlanta managed to contain Golden State’s Gabby Williams, limiting her to just 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting.
Going into this Finals, Atlanta had never won in their previous three appearances and had lost the opening game just last Saturday. Now, with Reese leading the way, the Dream find themselves just two wins away from a championship.
Game 4 is set for Saturday at State Farm Arena.
