Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream were on cloud nine just two games ago in the ongoing WNBA Finals after taking a 2-1 lead against the Golden State Valkyries. However, head coach Natalie Nakase’s side has since flipped the script and is now just one game away from its first WNBA championship in its second season of existence. After Angel Reese scored 30 and 21 points in Games 2 and 3 to drive the Dream to the promised land, the Valkyries got their defense back in order and have limited the Bayou Barbie to only 15 points on a poor 4-of-20 shooting since. Reese’s performance has seen a massive 180, as WNBA broadcaster Robin Lundberg reveals how the Valkyries have cracked the code in limiting one of the Finals MVP favorites’ output.
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“She was just kind of out of control. She’s demanding the ball, catches it. They, with the quick double, you know, they made some adjustments. Sending help to Reese is what I recommended after game three because, one, you make or make decisions, and two, she doesn’t really create for herself. She’s not going to manufacture baskets. She was just getting way too many straight, right-line drive layups,” Lundberg said on his YouTube channel.
According to Lundberg, the Valkyries’ formula of making the Dream’s life difficult during possession has passed with flying colors. Led by Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton, and Gabby Williams, Golden State’s defense has done a great job crowding the paint and forcing Angel Reese to take difficult shots.
One moment late in the game perfectly highlighted the broadcaster’s assessment. With 7:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Valkyries led the Dream 49-42. Reese, who was alone in the paint surrounded by Valkyries defenders, demanded the ball from teammate Jordin Canada from outside the arc. Immediately, two Valkyries defenders pounced on Reese, and while she got away through her physicality, Reese ended up missing the layup. Sequences like these in the previous two games have disrupted Reese’s rhythm, leading to poor scoring performances.
On Monday’s 64-55 loss at Chase Center, Reese produced seven points on 2-of-8 shooting, five assists, and a game-high 15 rebounds. While the Defensive Player of the Year’s rebounding prowess is still going strong, only that might not be enough in a championship series.
Apart from Reese, the Dream had an abysmal offensive outing. Allisha Gray scored 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting, Jordin Canada recorded 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting, while Naz Hillmon had only two points on 1-of-5 shooting in 34 minutes. Meanwhile, reserves DeWanna Bonner and Te-Hina Paopao did not even enter the score sheet.
“There are things that are on us, like we’re missing shots we should make,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko said about his team’s offense after the game. In Game 5, the Dream shot 19-of-65 from the field and 6-of-26 from the three-point line. They scored just 55 points, a stark contrast compared to their average of 82.0 points per game this postseason, according to StatMuse.
But offensive struggles are not the only area the Dream has to address next game. In Game 4, the Dream committed 17 turnovers. Those struggles continued on Monday, as the Valkyries won the points-off-turnovers battle 21-6. This makes all the more reason for the Dream to establish their offense in Game 6.
However, Angel Reese was more interested in the officiating. In the postgame press conference, Reese raised concerns that the referees have favored the Valkyries over the Dream in this tightly contested, highly physical series.
“A lot of us are getting fouled, and they’re not calling it. Or we’re talking to the ref after, and they’re saying, ‘Oh, we’ll get you next time.’ So it is a little frustrating,” Reese said, pointing out one particular moment that stood out to her in Game 4.
“I would definitely say last game… there was also a possession where Gabby (Williams) pulled me on purpose, and she was screaming foul, and they didn’t call it,” Reese said. “So that definitely was frustrating for sure. And her team is saying it, and they’re all screaming foul, but the refs, I don’t know what’s going on.”
In Game 4, with 3:36 left in the first quarter, the Valkyries led by nine points. Reese found herself in a one-on-one matchup against Williams. As Reese tried a layup, Williams pulled her left arm, throwing the forward off balance. Reese eventually lost possession to Kiah Stokes, but no foul was called on Williams.
“And I know I have the mismatch… So when I do switch on the post, and I’m a lot stronger than the opponent, I should be able to turn, and they’re calling offensive foul, but I’m getting pushed before that. So that is frustrating.” Reese added.
But Valkyries’ head coach Nakase was on the other side of the fence. For her, the Dream and Golden State are two of the best defensive-minded teams in the league, so this much physicality is “part of it.”
“I ain’t shocked about this. You have an Atlanta Dream team that’s well-coached, that have dogs, same as us.” Nakase said.
As the series now moves to State Farm Arena, the Dream will hope to force Game 7. Similar to last Saturday night, the Atlanta Hawks will push their game on October 29 back to 8 p.m. to accommodate the Dream, who will host the Valkyries at 12:30 p.m. A do-or-die game awaits Angel Reese and company, and it will be interesting to see how they tackle the Valkyries’ rock-solid defense this time.