When the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries tip off in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals tonight, the central query would be the similar one Angel Reese left unanswered on Saturday.
Angel Reese spent the primary quarter of Game 1 reminding everybody why Atlanta is right here.
Five of six pictures. Eleven factors. She was bodily, decisive, unattainable to maneuver out of the paint — the model of Reese that carried the Dream via a 10-game profitable streak and swept the New York Liberty out of the playoffs. The Chase Center crowd, which had been roaring for the Valkyries from tip-off, had gone just a little quiet.
Then the second half started, and Reese primarily disappeared.
Zero shot makes an attempt within the third quarter. Just two within the fourth. While Allisha Gray struggled to 5-of-19 capturing and Rhyne Howard went 3-of-14, the one participant who had confirmed she may impose her will on Golden State’s protection stood largely on the elbow and watched. The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 17-8 within the fourth quarter, Gabby Williams hit the go-ahead free throws with 1:18 left, and the Dream misplaced 68-64 regardless of main by seven with just below 9 minutes to play.
Golden State’s defensive adjustment was deliberate. Center Kiah Stokes mentioned the emphasis was on limiting Reese’s touches and controlling the boards. Former Dream ahead Laeticia Amihere, who performed for Atlanta in 2023 and 2024, helped shoulder the matchup. Coach Natalie Nakase credited her workers’s preparation and praised Amihere’s work within the project.
Reese stood on the postgame podium and took the blame herself.
“I don’t think they really did anything,” she mentioned of the Valkyries’ protection. “Maybe that was just on me. I wasn’t aggressive enough with the ball and trying to get to my spots. Definitely going to do a better job of that next game.”
Coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the offensive execution had been an issue as effectively.
“We didn’t move the ball well enough,” he mentioned. “We did a little bit too much one-on-one instead of getting into actions. Angel had a great first half. We didn’t get her the ball enough. Those will be some things that we talk about for Game 2.”
A loss in Game 2 would depart Atlanta down 0-2, with no workforce in WNBA playoff historical past having recovered from that deficit. The Dream may even have to handle Reese’s foul hassle after she dedicated two vital fouls within the last 1:18 of Game 1. Her first despatched Williams to the road, the place she transformed each free throws to place Golden State forward 65-64 — a lead the Valkyries didn’t relinquish. Her second, with 23.8 seconds remaining, prolonged the margin to 66-64.
How Atlanta adjusts its ball motion and whether or not it could possibly get Reese extra constantly concerned will likely be central questions when the 2 groups meet once more Monday evening in Game 2.
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