Angel Reese Advances to WNBA Finals Ahead of Caitlin Clark
Angel Reese has officially secured a spot in the WNBA Finals, beating Caitlin Clark to the milestone. After wrapping up a three-game sweep against the New York Liberty in the semifinals on Friday, she shared insights into her journey, recalling a particularly challenging training camp exercise that left her feeling, well, a bit “embarrassed” in front of her new teammates with the Atlanta Dream.
During the postgame press conference, Reese recounted a significant moment at training camp when Coach Karl Smesko halted a drill, insisting she make two consecutive three-pointers before allowing the team to proceed. It was a pressure-filled situation, to say the least.
Reese reflected on that experience, expressing her frustration with Smesko and her concern about letting her teammates down. “It’s tough not to rush success; Karl kept telling me to be patient. I distinctly remember him stopping the drills and making me hit two in a row. You never want to hold back your team, but there I was, feeling upset with him. I was just scared of looking bad and how long it might take me to get those shots in,” she shared. “But now it feels much easier.”
Reese’s Shooting Journey
Reese is often humorously labeled as a poor shooter, facing ridicule for missed easy shots, a situation she has even capitalized on by launching merchandise called “Mebounds”—a playful jab at her rebounding stats compared to her shooting performance.
After the game, when asked how many attempts it took to make those consecutive shots, Reese wasn’t quite sure, to which Smesko indicated it wasn’t as many as she might think. “I felt a little embarrassed with my teammates cheering me on from the sidelines,” she admitted.
Fast forward to now, she made crucial three-pointers in Atlanta’s 85-83 win over New York, clinching a semifinal sweep which marked the Dream’s return to the Finals for the first time since 2013.
Her shooting has indeed improved since her rookie season, where she faced criticism for her layup misses. She had a challenging start, making only 39.1% of her shots, but has shown some progress since then. Reese’s shooting figures this regular season were better at 45.1%, though still a bit below her 45.8% average from her second year in Chicago.
This season, her attempts from three-point range increased, but she still struggled, hitting less than one in five. However, she found a bit more success during playoffs, making five out of thirteen attempts, which is notable considering the small sample size of just five games.
Growing Impact with the Dream
Reese’s overall game has thrived in Atlanta. She achieved a career-high average of 16.4 points per game, led the league in rebounding, and snagged her first Defensive Player of the Year award. In the decisive game on Friday, she contributed 22 points and nine rebounds.
This opportunity came after an April trade that moved her from Chicago, where she experienced two difficult seasons, to a franchise that recorded a record-setting 30 wins last season. Atlanta’s roster included All-Star players, positioning her on a well-supported playoff team in just Smesko’s second year as coach.
Despite a few challenges, like the loss of key player Brionna Jones to injury, the Dream made the Finals, pushing through without another primary player, Allisha Gray, in the last two games of the series.
In contrast, Clark, who began her WNBA journey alongside Reese in 2024, reached the playoffs first but faced setbacks. This season, she achieved a career-best average of 22.3 points, contributing significantly to Indiana’s high-scoring offense, though they were eliminated in the first round.
Now, Reese’s focus shifts to capturing her first WNBA championship, as the Finals are set to begin on October 17. Atlanta is on the hunt for the franchise’s first title.
