Reese Accepts Dream's Final Loss, Cites Record-Setting Season

Angel Reese accepted the Atlanta Dream’s season-ending defeat to the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday night, conceding a 68-63 loss in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. The result ended her third professional campaign with a championship loss, though she finished the year with multiple franchise records and individual honors.

Reese struggled offensively in the decisive game, scoring just eight points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. Her shooting percentage dropped to 33.3% from outside and at the free-throw line. She committed four turnovers and did not take a shot in the fourth quarter. Despite the offensive slump, she secured 12 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end, along with one steal and two blocks.

Her performance in Game 7 contrasted with her series averages of 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. She recorded four double-doubles during the finals, including a career-best 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2. However, she was held to eight or fewer points in three of the Dream's four losses in the series. The team’s inability to overcome her scoring dip in critical games proved decisive in the final outcome.

The season provided Reese with individual milestones that solidified her status as a top-tier player. She earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, a third All-Star selection, and a spot on the All-WNBA second team. Those accolades make her eligible for an EPIC contract extension. She also set single-season records for rebounds and double-doubles, as well as a single-game rebounding record.

Her development under head coach Karl Smesko played a central role in her statistical improvements. Smesko worked directly with Reese to restructure her shot mechanics, a process that contributed to her offensive growth this year. Reese credited the coaching staff and teammates for helping her mature during the season. She described the group as dedicated to daily improvement, a dynamic she valued after years of roster instability in Chicago.

Reese emphasized the stability she found in Atlanta compared to her previous tenure with the Chicago Sky. She noted that the Dream organization changed her life and expressed gratitude for the support from the local fan base. She stated that the experience of reaching the finals would help her grow as a player. She plans to use the offseason to further learn the team's system and continue working with Smesko.

The forward expressed confidence in the team's future trajectory. She described the season as a delay rather than a denial of success. Reese said she would play through the same season again with the current roster. The Dream will enter the offseason with the knowledge that they reached the final game of the title series for the first time in her career.