Angel Reese has had to adapt her game over the years to better serve her team. When she joined Kim Mulkey’s LSU, she pivoted her role to prioritize aggressive paint physicality and elite rebounding, anchoring the team to its first-ever National Championship in 2023. She has also had to rework her offensive versatility under coach Karl Smesko since joining the Atlanta Dream from Chicago.
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One aspect of her game that has, however, been the most challenging to adapt is her shooting. In fact, according to WNBA writer Brian Hamilton, that part of her game had to go through a total overhaul. In a column for The Athletic following the Dream’s loss in Game 7 of the Finals, Hamilton revealed that Reese was willing to rebuild her shooting mechanics from scratch, as head coach Karl Smesko explained.
“When we decided to kind of remake the shot and start from scratch, obviously the risk is that the season starts in two weeks,” Smesko said. “And that’s not when you would want to start a process like that.”
According to Hamilton, Reese used a shooting technology called the Noah Shooting System to improve her mechanics. As he explained on Friday’s episode of The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, it is an advanced training system that uses technology to measure different aspects of a player’s shot, particularly its arc and angle as it approaches the rim.
Unlike traditional drills, where coaches and teammates rely largely on visual observation to spot mistakes, the Noah system provides objective, data-driven feedback. It measures the trajectory of each shot and helps players understand whether their arc falls within the optimal range for a better chance of making the basket.
It also provides real-time feedback, allowing players to catch even the slightest inconsistencies in their mechanics and adjust immediately. Instead of relying solely on a coach’s assessment, players get measurable information on every attempt, which helps build consistency over time.
And indeed, when you compare Angel Reese’s shooting this past season with what she had produced in previous years, it is safe to say that the system has contributed significantly to her improvement, particularly in the playoffs. During the postseason, she shot an impressive 37.9% from three-point range, a considerable improvement from the 19.3% she recorded during the regular season.
In total, she made 11 three-pointers during the 2026 regular season, more than doubling her previous career output. Her willingness to step out and shoot also changed how teams had to defend the Dream. In fact, Atlanta went 16-0 this year whenever Reese hit at least one three-pointer.
That willingness was especially evident in Game 6 of the Finals, where she attempted eight threes, nearly matching the total number of attempts she took over half a season in Chicago. She made two of those eight, and finished 6-of-16 from deep across the seven-game series.
With her current numbers, Reese does not yet belong in the conversation of the WNBA’s elite shooters. But improvement is a gradual process, and she knows it. For her, there is still more work to be done.
Angel Reese Looks Forward to More Offseason Work With Karl Smesko as Dream Eye Further Improvement
Angel Reese has already shown she is willing to put in the work to improve, even when it means rebuilding part of her game from scratch. But for the Atlanta Dream forward, the work does not stop when the season ends. She is already looking forward to another offseason of development under Smesko.
“When individually you get better in the offseason, you get better collectively,” Reese said. “Karl puts a lot of work in. I’m sure he’s going to see all of us this offseason, and I’m honestly looking forward to it.”
Although the Dream fell short of lifting the trophy this time around, the 23-year-old is not allowing the disappointment to overshadow what the team can still achieve in the future. And so for her, the ultimate goal is to return next season and compete for the WNBA championship again.
“It is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back. I always say, delayed not denied,” she said. “Just because we didn’t win today doesn’t mean that we won’t be champions in the future.”
A Game 7 loss is a lot to carry into an offseason. But with the mindset that she has, Reese is already looking beyond the disappointment of the Finals defeat and toward another opportunity to compete for a championship. And as she continues working on her individual game alongside Smesko and the rest of the Dream, she will be hoping that the improvements made this offseason can help Atlanta take the final step next season.