Angel Reese’s spectacular first season with the Atlanta Dream ended on a sour note Saturday, as the Golden State Valkyries escaped with a victory and their first title in the winner-take-all matchup.
But the Baltimore native, following her first postseason appearance, vowed to return to the WNBA’s biggest stage.
“It is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back. And I always say, ’Delayed not denied,’” Reese told reporters after the game. “This is only year three — [my teammates have] a lot more years left too — but I’m just really grateful I got to go to war with this group. I would do it again, all over again.”
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The three-time All-Star was electric throughout the postseason. She averaged 16.1 points per game, adding 11 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as Atlanta made its first Finals appearance since 2013.
Reese dominated Games 2 and 3 to give the Dream a 2-1 series lead. In the back-to-back victories, she tallied 51 total points and 28 rebounds. But she struggled in Atlanta’s losses. She failed to convert more than 43% of her shots from the field in any of the final four games of the series.
Reese managed just 8 points in the Game 7 loss, attempting a postseason-low seven shots in the defeat.
The Chicago Sky drafted Reese with the No. 7 pick in 2024. But the franchise traded her to Atlanta before this season for a pair of first-round picks. The move paid off for the Dream, as Reese was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Atlanta still fell one game short of a title.
“It’s tough. Especially with a good group, a great group, that I’ve honestly had the honor to battle with all year,” Reese told reporters after the game. “They changed my life, and I’m so grateful for them. And I’m so thankful for them.”
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