Angel Reese is having the last laugh. After leading the Atlanta Dream to a dramatic 101-98 overtime victory over the New York Liberty on Wednesday night, the former Chicago Sky forward took to social media to fire back at her critics, making it clear she's enjoying every moment of this playoff run.
The Dream now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead and are just one win away from a WNBA Finals appearance. The Liberty, meanwhile, are staring at elimination, needing to win three straight games to keep their season alive. It's a stunning turn of events for a Liberty team that many expected to cruise through this series.
Reese was a force on the court, putting up 23 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out two assists, and adding two blocks. But it was her post-game social media post that really stole the spotlight. She praised her teammates for their collective effort, saying, "I think we did a great job making sure that we were all on the connected stream. We really stayed together and played together, and that's how we won."
The game itself was a nail-biter, with both teams trading blows in regulation before the Dream pulled away in overtime. Liberty star Breanna Stewart exploded for 35 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Atlanta's balanced attack. The Dream's resilience in the closing moments was a testament to their growth under head coach Karl Smesko, who credited his team's execution down the stretch.
"We just had a message that we thought we could be the best team over the last five minutes, let's start off by executing the first couple plays," Smesko said. "Everybody was locked in on what those plays were, and they went out there and executed them."
Reese's taunt is just the latest chapter in her ongoing rivalry with critics who have doubted her game since her college days. Her impact, though, is undeniable. As the 'Reese Effect' on ticket sales has shown, she's a game-changer both on and off the court. But her on-court production is what's silencing the doubters now.
The Dream's momentum is real, and they're playing with a confidence that's hard to ignore. They've already proven they can win on the road, and now they have a chance to close out the series in front of their home fans. The Liberty, on the other hand, are in a desperate situation, and their season hangs by a thread.
As the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3, the pressure is squarely on New York. Can they rally, or will the Dream punch their ticket to the Finals? One thing's for sure: Angel Reese won't be backing down, and she'll be more than happy to remind everyone of that if they do.
