Angel Reese has been a force all season, but now she's got a new title to go with her dominant play. Just days before the Atlanta Dream tip off in the WNBA Finals, veteran guard CJ McCollum dubbed her the "Queen of the South," a nod to her LSU roots and her transformative impact on the Dream.
Reese, who was traded to Atlanta last offseason, made good on her own prediction of reaching the Finals. The Dream punched their ticket by sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals, with Reese pouring in a team-high 22 points in the decisive Game 3. After the win, she made it clear that this is just the beginning.
"Just knowing I belong here," Reese said. "Knowing, coming to Atlanta, how much I wanted to help this team and do whatever it takes. Not just to get out of the first round, not just to get out the semis, but to make it to the Finals and win a championship. And the job is not done. We're definitely happy about where we are right now, but we're not satisfied."
With Game 1 set for Saturday afternoon, the Dream are getting love from the city's NBA squad. McCollum, speaking about the team's turnaround, credited Reese for changing the culture. "Obviously, the Atlanta team changed when the Queen of the South got here, so happy for her, happy to see them doing well, happy to see the team in the city kind of surrounding them," he said.
Reese embraced the new moniker with gratitude. "Shoutout to CJ McCollum. It is really cool when you men's team shows love to you," she told reporters Friday. "I guess he's saying that because I played at LSU. I appreciate the name. I guess that's my new nickname – Queen of the South."
The nickname adds to the growing buzz around Reese, who has been silencing doubters all postseason. Her playoff numbers are stellar—18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game—and the Dream are a perfect 5-0 in these playoffs. The "Reese Effect" is undeniable, with ticket sales and viewership spiking whenever she's on the court.
This Finals run is a far cry from the criticism she faced earlier in her career. Her playoff dominance has even put Caitlin Clark's postseason struggles in perspective, and she's taken joy in trolling her critics as the Dream advanced. Now, she's one step away from the ultimate prize.
The Dream will need every bit of that fire against a Golden State Valkyries squad that has been equally impressive. But with Reese leading the charge, Atlanta believes anything is possible. Game 1 tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET, and the Queen of the South is ready to rule.
