Angel Reese didn't just keep the Atlanta Dream's championship hopes alive on Thursday—she etched her name into the WNBA record books. The former LSU star delivered a dominant performance in Game 6, leading the Dream to an 80-69 victory over the Golden State Valkyries and tying the series at three games apiece.
Reese finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, but it was her work on the glass that made history. With that 14th rebound, she surpassed the legendary Sylvia Fowles for the most rebounds in a single WNBA Finals series, finishing with 78 boards. It's a milestone that underscores Reese's relentless motor and her ability to impact the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score.
“We have no doubt,” Reese said before the noon tipoff. “I have no doubt that this team will come back and fight back and win this Game 6 and then move on from it.” That confidence proved prophetic as the Dream controlled the tempo from start to finish, never trailing after the first quarter.
The victory sets up a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries, who have been the league's powerhouse all season, will have home-court advantage, but the Dream have already shown they can thrive under pressure. Atlanta has been resilient all series, and Reese's leadership has been a driving force.
“She's a monster on the boards,” said Dream head coach Tanisha Wright. “She changes the game with her effort. That's what champions are made of.”
The scheduling of the Finals has been a hot topic, with many criticizing the noon start times and the compressed calendar. Game 6 tickets reportedly plummeted to $23 as fans balked at the midday slot, and Steve Kerr's blunt take on the scheduling chaos added to the controversy. But for Reese, the focus remains on the court.
“We don't control the schedule,” she said. “We just control what we do when the ball goes up.”
Her performance also has financial implications. Reese's All-WNBA honor unlocked a massive pay raise, and a Finals MVP trophy would only add to her growing legacy. For now, though, her eyes are on the ultimate prize: a championship ring.
Game 7 is set for 8 p.m. ET on USA Network. ESPN's matchup predictor gives Golden State a 60.1% chance of winning the title, but if Thursday was any indication, the Dream are not ready to go quietly. With Reese crashing the boards and the team playing with their backs against the wall, Atlanta has every reason to believe they can finish the job.
