Angel Reese: Delayed, Not Denied

The Atlanta Dreams fell to the Golden State Valkyries 68-63 on Sunday, ending their first season in the WNBA Finals with a loss. Angel Reese, who joined the team this year, held her head high during the postgame press conference. She described the outcome as a delay rather than a denial, emphasizing the strength of her new group.

Reese credited her teammates for changing her life and praised their work ethic and determination. "They changed my life and I am just so grateful for them, so thankful for them," she said. She noted that it was only her third year in the league and that the group had many years left to compete for a title. "I’m just really grateful that I got to go to war with this team," she added.

The season marked a historic performance for Reese, who broke double-double records in both the regular season and the playoffs. She also earned her first Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Dream reached the league’s first-ever Game 7 in Finals history, a milestone that underscored their competitive depth.

Reese pointed to coach Karl Smesko for her personal growth and the team's collective success. "When individually you get better in the offseason, you get better collectively, and you can see that Karl puts a lot of work in," she stated. She expressed confidence in returning to his system for another season.

The Dream’s popularity surged during the tournament. The team outgrew their home venue, the Gateway Center Arena, which seats 7,000 fans. They moved all games to the State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks, which has a capacity of 16,000. Celebrities including Usher, Monica, and T.I. attended games to show support.

The WNBA season will resume next spring, though an official start date has not been announced. The league’s draft is scheduled for April 12. The Dream’s performance established them as a major force in the Eastern Conference, drawing national attention to women’s basketball.