Caitlin Clark takes a breather as Angel Reese makes things tough for her and the entire WNBA
Angel Reese’s numbers with the Atlanta Dream are out of this world. The WNBA star is setting a nearly impossible standard for future generations to match.
We never got to see Caitlin Clar k in the WNBA Finals , but Angel Reese has made sure the biggest stage still has a superstar putting on a show. The Atlanta Dream forward is delivering a historic performance, dominating the Finals and cementing her place alongside some of the greatest players in league history.
Reese once again delivered when it mattered most, leading the Dream to a dominant 97-71 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena. The young star finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steal s in 34 minutes, shooting 7-of-12 from the field .
The win gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and moved the franchise closer to what would be its first championship in team history.
According to ESPN Insights , Reese became the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three career Finals games . She also joined A’ja Wilson as the only players ever to record consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound performances in the same WNBA Finals series.
Reese’s dominance has been a constant throughout the series. In her Finals debut, she posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Game 1 loss, before exploding for 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, leading the Dream to the first Finals victory in franchise history.
The Dream are two wins away from a championship
In Game 3, Reese showed another dimension of her skill set. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year surprised from beyond the arc, knocking down two three-pointers, a part of her game that has rarely been a focal point.
Her first three came late in the opening quarter and helped Atlanta build a 22-12 lead . Her second triple extended the advantage to 30-23 in the second quarter, and shortly after, she made a key defensive impact with a steal that led to a Rhyne Howard three-pointer .
According to the WNBA , the Dream remain undefeated this season — including the regular season and playoffs — whenever Reese makes at least one three-pointer.
Beyond the numbers, Reese continued to bring the intensity and confidence that have become part of her identity. After drawing a foul on a layup against Aminata Gueye , the Atlanta star celebrated in front of the Valkyries before sharing a chest bump with teammate Allisha Gray .
Atlanta once again showed its depth and balance. Rhyne Howard added 16 points, Naz Hillmon scored 15 and Isobel Borlase contributed 12 points off the bench. The Dream shot 49% from the field and turned Golden State’s 17 turnovers into 22 points.
For the Valkyries , Gabby Williams led the team with 15 points, but she needed 18 shots to get there. Cecilia Zandalasin i added 13 points, while Golden State struggled offensively, shooting just 35% from the field .
The Valkyries now face a critical moment and need a much stronger performance to avoid falling into a nearly impossible hole.
With the opportunity to capture the first championship in franchise history, the Atlanta Dream are only two wins away from the title and will look to take a commanding advantage when they host Game 4 on Saturday.
