Angel Reese Reaches WNBA Finals and Overcomes Challenges

Angel Reese has reached the WNBA Finals ahead of Caitlin Clark. She shared insights into her journey following a semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty. Reese faced challenges, including a training camp incident that left her embarrassed.

During a postgame conference, Reese recalled a moment when Coach Karl Smesko stopped a drill, asking her to hit two consecutive 3-pointers before continuing. This situation put pressure on her, fearing she might let her team down.

It’s hard for me to not rush success. Karl made me realize patience is key. During training camp, he halted drills and insisted I hit two 3-pointers in front of everyone. I was upset with him. It wasn’t easy, but now it’s second nature.

Reese’s shooting has often been criticized. Despite this, she embraced humor, launching merchandise branded “Mebounds,” a playful jab at her rebounds after missed shots.

At Friday’s conference, Reese was questioned about how many attempts it took her to make two 3-pointers. Reese was uncertain, while Smesko indicated it didn’t take many.

The Atlanta Dream’s victory marked their first Finals appearance since 2013. Reese has faced criticism for her missed layups since her rookie year, where she had a 39.1% shooting accuracy.

Her shooting performance has since improved. With Atlanta, she made 45.1% of shots this season, compared to 45.8% in Chicago. Reese’s attempts at 3-pointers increased, with a 19.3% success rate this regular season. During playoffs, she improved to 38.5% in 3-point attempts.

Reese’s contribution to Atlanta is notable. She averaged a career-high 16.4 points, led in rebounding, and earned the Defensive Player of the Year award. In Friday’s game, she scored 22 points with nine rebounds.

An April trade saw Reese moving from Chicago to Atlanta. Chicago missed playoffs during her tenure, while Atlanta already had a strong record, with Reese joining a playoff-caliber team.

Despite losing center Brionna Jones to injury and playing without Allisha Gray, Atlanta progressed to the Finals. They will pursue their first WNBA championship, with the Finals set to start on Oct. 17.

Clark entered the league with Reese in 2024. She reached playoffs first, but injuries affected her postseason play. This season, Clark averaged 22.3 points, leading Indiana to a strong finish before their elimination.

Reese aims for her first WNBA title as Atlanta seeks a historic victory.