The Atlanta Dream are now one loss away from elimination after falling 64-55 to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday. With Atlanta trailing 3-2 in the series, most criticism was directed at Angel Reese following another forgettable performance.
Reese had been extremely animated during Atlanta’s Game 3 blowout win, repeatedly taunting the Valkyries as the Dream took control of the series. Since then, however, things have taken a drastic turn. Over the last two games, Reese has averaged just 7.5 points while turning the ball over 4.5 times per game, with Atlanta losing both.
That sudden swing gave fans plenty of ammunition on social media, with several bringing up Reese’s Game 3 celebrations.
“Fake demon🤣🤣,” @TheBIG_JEPH said.
“She’s pulling off an all timer of a choke job out here,” @TJTheVillain said.
If Atlanta hopes to turn the series around, Angel Reese will need to get much closer to the level she showed earlier in the Finals. Across the first three games, she averaged 21.6 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, numbers the Dream will likely need again if they are to win the final two games.
Angel Reese blames officiating for back-to-back WNBA Finals losses
After Atlanta’s Game 5 loss on Monday, Angel Reese made it clear that she was unhappy with the officiating, particularly over the last two games. Reese felt she was not getting the same calls as she did earlier in the series.
“I know I have the mismatch, especially we were talking about matchups,” Reese said. “So when I do switch on the post and I’m a lot stronger than the opponent, I should be able to turn. They’re calling offensive foul, but I’m getting pushed before that. So that is frustrating for sure. It definitely shifted when we went up 2-1 and things shifted. I don’t know what happened, but it definitely took a big turn.”
It is not something Atlanta can lean on as an excuse, but the free-throw numbers do show a clear drop. Reese attempted 23 free throws across the first three games, averaging just under 7.7 per game, before that number fell to 5.0 attempts per game in Games 4 and 5.
Edited by Advait Jajodia
