With Game 2 of the 2026 WNBA Finals in the books, Kelsey Plum knows Angel Reese has that dog in her. Games 1 and 2 of the Finals series were set to take place at Chase Center, where the Golden State Valkyries were expected to use their home-court advantage and set the tone. And while they did exactly that in the series opener, the loud roars from Ballhalla didn’t matter to Reese on Monday. She straight-up dominated the game in a way that no Golden State player was able to disrupt. So, with Golden State now losing its home-court advantage, WNBA star Plum has pointed to a much bigger concern for the Valkyries: finding someone who can match Reese’s mentality.

“Mentally, to me, she made a decision that she was going to win that game. And if you want to get on the ship, the ship is moving,” the two-time WNBA champion said on the October 20 episode of Girls Tripp. “To me, that was like, oh, unless Golden State decides to match that, cause mentally you perform before the physical manifestation. So I think Angel won that game before the game was even played.”

“Now, going throughout the series, the recipe is like, ‘Okay, Angel has now set the bar. Who on Golden State is going to match that?’ And that to me is the biggest question. So now I’m looking at Atlanta saying, and they’re going home, (the Valkyries) don’t have Bahala on their side right now, who from Golden State is going to go toe-to-toe with Angel mentally? Because it’s a level you saw from the first possession of the game to the last possession of the game. She did not falter or wave the entire time. That, to me, shows the maturity of a superstar.”

“I don’t know who’s mentally strong enough – not saying there isn’t – but I don’t know who’s mentally strong enough either individually or collectively to be able to match that for Golden State,” Plum further added.

Kelsey Plum has firsthand experience of what Angel Reese brings to the court. She has faced Reese as an opponent since the Dream forward entered the league in 2024. Plum even got a deeper look into her game when they both played for Team USA during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. So on Monday, Reese gave Plum another reason to recognize her mentality.

After going scoreless in the second half of Game 1, the Dream forward made it clear at halftime of Game 2 that she “gotta make up for it.”

In 34 minutes on the court, the 24-year-old exploded for 30 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks to lead Atlanta to a 14-point win over Golden State. And with that performance, she became the youngest player in WNBA playoff history to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds.

But the victory also carried significance beyond the box score. Atlanta entered the 2026 Finals carrying a painful piece of history. They lost all of their previous Finals games across their appearances in 2010, 2011, and 2013. Game 1’s defeat extended that streak to 10 consecutive losses. However, Reese and the Dream finally put an end to it on Monday, securing the franchise’s first-ever win in the WNBA Finals.

So as the series moves forward, the question now is whether Golden State can find an answer. Gabby Williams, who led the Valkyries with 26 points in Game 1, managed just 14 on 3-of-15 shooting in the second game, while the team struggled to contain Atlanta’s second-half surge. So with the Dream carrying that momentum into Game 3, the Valkyries will need a collective response to match the relentless energy Angel Reese has brought to the Finals.

But there is something the Dream need to fix, too, if they plan to win it all.

Dream’s Foul Trouble Could Become a Problem

Foul trouble nearly cost Atlanta two of its key players in Game 2. Both Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard came dangerously close to fouling out.

Howard picked up two personal fouls within the first five minutes before adding a third early in the second quarter and a fourth with just over six minutes left in the first half. Reese also finished with five fouls, leaving her just one away from fouling out.

Behind those fouls, the Valkyries attempted 19 free throws and converted 84% of them, making Atlanta’s foul trouble an even bigger concern. Both Reese and Howard managed to stay on the floor, though, and Howard still made her mark defensively, recording six steals to set a WNBA Finals single-game record.

With Game 3 set to take place in less than 24 hours at State Farm Arena, the Dream will have home-court advantage on their side. So while Angel Reese and her teammates need to be more careful with their physicality, the Valkyries will have to deal with both the Dream’s momentum and an Atlanta crowd ready to back its team.