Reese Vows Dream Will Return After Finals Game 7 Loss

The Atlanta Dream lost 68-63 to Golden State’s Valkyries in the WNBA Finals’ seventh game on October 31, ending their bid for the franchise’s first title. Angel Reese recorded eight points, 12 rebounds and two blocks as Golden State claimed its first championship. Gabby Williams scored 30 points, including 28 after halftime, and was named Finals MVP.

Atlanta led by six at halftime and was up by nine midway through the third quarter, but Williams led Golden State’s comeback. Reese made a three-pointer early in the second quarter, but scored only three more points over the final 29 minutes. She finished with four turnovers and did not attempt a shot in the fourth quarter.

Reese set a WNBA Finals record with 90 rebounds across the series. Across Atlanta’s three victories, she averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists; her scoring average fell to 9.3 points in the team’s four losses. The Dream had taken a 2-1 series lead before Golden State won three of the next four games.

It was Reese’s first postseason, in her third WNBA season and first with Atlanta after a trade from Chicago. She said she was proud of the team’s season and grateful for her teammates and coaches. “We’ll be back,” she said, adding that she looked forward to another offseason working with coach Karl Smesko.