Angel Reese has reached the WNBA Finals ahead of Caitlin Clark, following a sweep of the New York Liberty in the semifinals. Reese shared insights into her journey, including a challenging training camp exercise that left her feeling “embarrassed” in front of her Atlanta Dream teammates.
During a postgame news conference, Reese recounted a training camp moment when Coach Karl Smesko halted a drill, demanding she make two consecutive 3-pointers. “It’s hard for me to not rush success, and Karl reminded me of patience,” Reese said. “I was upset because I didn’t want to let my teammates down.” Ultimately, she succeeded, showcasing growth that paid off in the semifinals.
Known for shooting struggles, Reese turned this into merchandise humor with “Mebounds,” a play on her rebounds from missed shots. When asked how many attempts it took to make two consecutive shots, Reese admitted, “I don’t know.” Smesko confirmed, “It wasn’t that many.” Reese added, “I was pretty embarrassed with my teammates cheering.”
On Friday, Reese’s two 3-pointers helped Atlanta secure an 85-83 victory, leading them to their first Finals since 2013. Her shooting performance addressed ongoing scrutiny. In 2024, Reese rebutted criticism of missed layups after her rookie season yielded a 39.1% shooting rate. Improvements followed, with a 45.1% rate this season, marginally below her 45.8% in Chicago.
Reese’s 3-point attempts increased with the Dream, though her regular season success was below 20%, showing minor improvement from the previous year. In playoffs, she’s made 38.5% of attempts, reflecting stronger performance in limited games.
Reese’s production flourished in Atlanta, averaging a career-high 16.4 points, leading in rebounding, and capturing Defensive Player of the Year. She concluded the semifinals with 22 points and nine rebounds. Her move from Chicago to Atlanta in April, for two first-round picks, was pivotal. Chicago missed playoffs during her tenure, finishing 10-34 in 2025.
Atlanta boasted a franchise-best 30-win season and a core featuring All-Star guards Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and champion Jordin Canada. Reese joined a playoff-ready team under Coach Smesko. Their 30-14 record secured home-court advantage against Washington and New York. Despite losing center Brionna Jones and playing without Gray, Atlanta reached the Finals.
Caitlin Clark, who joined the WNBA with Reese in 2024, reached playoffs first but missed 2025 with an injury. This season, Clark averaged a career-high 22.3 points but faced early elimination. Reese now aims for her first WNBA championship, with the Finals starting October 17. Atlanta seeks its first title.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covering key sports issues. His work is recognized in federal Title IX actions and major media outlets.