Just 48 hours after a devastating defeat, the Atlanta Dream completely flipped the script. The Dream opened their first WNBA Finals since 2013 with a 68-64 loss, as Angel Reese went scoreless in the second half of Game 1, Jordin Canada was limited to just 8 points, and veteran DeWanna Bonner finished with only two. However, on Monday, Reese made it clear she was ready to make up for her shortcomings from the series opener, as the 24-year-old broke a losing streak Atlanta has been trying to move past since 2010.
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In a Chase Center packed with star power, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Yaxel Lendeborg, the Dream forward helped lead Atlanta to a 79-65 win to even the Finals series at 1-1. From Reese’s historic night to an ongoing national anthem controversy, Game 2 delivered plenty of talking points. So, as the WNBA Finals move forward, here are some takeaways from the Dream’s statement win over Golden State.
Angel Reese Makes History as Dream Snap 10-Game Finals Losing Streak
If there was one player who stood out the most on Monday night, it was Angel Reese. She was simply electric.
In 34 minutes on the court, Reese exploded for 30 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks to help the Atlanta Dream secure a 14-point win over the Golden State Valkyries. The Dream forward came out determined to make amends, and she wasted little time making her presence felt.
Reese had already put up 12 points and five rebounds in just 13 minutes of play, giving Atlanta the early spark it desperately needed after its disappointing series opener. During a halftime interview, she made it clear that she was not satisfied with her previous performance, saying, “I left a lot of points on the board last time, so I gotta make up for it.”
And she delivered on that promise, even with Kiah Stokes bringing the heat defensively and making life difficult for her. She continued to find ways to contribute, powering Atlanta to a much-needed victory and helping the franchise put an end to a painful Finals streak.
Atlanta first reached the championship series in 2010, where the team faced the Seattle Storm but lost all three games. Then, the Dream returned the following year hoping to change their fortunes, only to suffer another sweep, this time against the Minnesota Lynx. Their third trip to the Finals came in 2013, and Minnesota once again denied them a championship, completing another 3-0 series win. So after dropping Game 1 of the ongoing Finals, Atlanta’s losing streak in the championship series reached 10 consecutive games. But this win finally helped Atlanta break free from a Finals curse that had followed the franchise for years.
Now, with a performance like that, Angel Reese made history as the youngest player to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in a WNBA postseason game, joining Jonquel Jones, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson in an exclusive group, according to the WNBA. However, the night wasn’t without its fair share of trouble for the young star.
Valkyries Rookie Sparks Tension With Angel Reese
Slowing the Double-Double Barbie down was always going to be a challenge for Golden State, and Natalie Nakase knew she needed another option. The Valkyries head coach turned to French rookie Aminata Gueye, giving her the task of disrupting the Atlanta Dream star and making her work for every basket.
However, the assignment quickly turned into a physical battle, with Gueye and Reese going at each other throughout the opening quarter.
At one point, the exchange appeared to spill over into a war of words. And while the exact conversation remains unclear, some believed Gueye called Reese a “flopper,” prompting the Dream star to fire back with a blunt response that, according to Fullcourt Pass on X, was, “You can’t f*** with me, bum a**.”
Reese said that while taking her free-throw attempts off a shooting foul on Gueye. She ended up making both her shots to cut Golden State’s lead to just one point with a little over a minute remaining in the first quarter.
This exchange added another layer of intensity to an already physical contest, but Reese ultimately had the last laugh as she dominated the Valkyries on their home court.
Dream and Valkyries Repeat National Anthem Walkout Despite Game 1 Backlash
The national anthem controversy surrounding the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries did not end with Game 1. Despite the criticism that followed their decision to leave the court during Saturday’s performance, both teams repeated the move on Monday.
The players once again left the floor as the anthem began and returned after the performance concluded. The repeated walkout drew renewed attention, particularly given the expectations outlined in the WNBA rulebook regarding player conduct during the national anthem.
Section H of the league’s basic principles states that “Players, coaches, and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.” But the teams’ decision to leave the court appears to be in violation of that rule, although the league has not publicly announced a formal violation or disciplinary action over either incident.
The reasons behind the walkouts also remain unclear. The WNBA has a history of players using their platform to express views on social and political issues, but neither franchise has explained whether the latest incidents were intended as a protest or had another motivation.
So as this final series continues to move forward, questions over their intentions and the league’s response are likely to follow.
Dream’s Foul Trouble Nearly Overshadows Historic Night
In Game 1, several fans pointed to the officials’ handling of fouls, particularly after Angel Reese was caught on camera hitting Gabby Williams in the face before doing the same to Veronica Burton on the very next possession. However, Game 2 brought a different concern for Atlanta, as two of its key players came dangerously close to fouling out.
Rhyne Howard was called for two personal fouls just five minutes into the game. She then picked up her third within the opening seconds of the second quarter before committing her fourth with a little over six minutes left in the first half.
Angel Reese also finished with five fouls, which left her just one away from fouling out. Both of them, however, managed to stay out of further trouble, while Howard, after her fourth, went on to record six steals, setting a WNBA Finals series game record.
With the series now tied at 1-1, the Dream and Valkyries will meet again on Wednesday, October 21, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Playing in front of their home crowd, Atlanta will look to build on its Game 2 momentum while keeping its foul trouble under control.
