The Atlanta Dream are absolutely buzzing after their Game 2 win over the New York Liberty, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the WNBA semifinal series. That victory puts them just one win away from the Finals, and if you watched, you saw exactly how they did it: from beyond the arc. Atlanta lit it up, hitting 12-for-30 for a sizzling 40 percent from three-point range. And what’s wild is that some of the biggest names making those shots were never known for them before head coach Karl Smesko got to town.
Smesko’s Shooters are Lighting Up the Postseason
We saw ESPN on Wednesday night’s broadcast show Coach Smesko working with Angel Reese on her three-point shot. He promised her it would become part of her game, and he’s delivering! Reese went 1-for-2 from deep in Game 2. Think about that: she went from averaging 0.6 attempts per game before Smesko to 1.3 attempts per game under him, and while her regular season percentage stayed under 20 percent, she’s now knocked down three triples this postseason. ESPN broadcaster Ryan Ruocco keeps calling them “found money,” and honestly, he’s not wrong. Nobody asked Reese to shoot threes before Smesko arrived, but she’s doing it, and it’s making a difference.
She’s not alone, either. Jordin Canada may have attempted and made more threes in 2023 with the Los Angeles Sparks, but what she’s doing in the 2026 playoffs is next level. Canada hit 3-for-6 from three in Game 2, pushing her to 2.8 makes per game and an unprecedented 47.8 percent efficiency this postseason. Unprecedented, folks! Then there’s Naz Hillmon, who went 1-for-6 from deep in Game 2. That single game effort matched the total number of three-pointers she took in her *entire three seasons* in the WNBA before Smesko arrived last season. In just two years with Smesko, Hillmon has fired up 335 regular-season attempts, making 105 for a decent 31.3 percent clip. This isn’t just luck, it’s a coaching masterclass.
The Three-Ball Philosophy That’s Delivering Wins
What we’re seeing in Atlanta isn’t some new experiment for Karl Smesko. He’s known for this! His entire coaching philosophy, stretching all the way back to college, has revolved around the three-ball and finding huge success with that approach. As the inaugural head coach at Florida Gulf Coast University from 2002-03 to 2023-24, Smesko built a dynasty on this very idea. He guided the Eagles to Division I in 2007-08, took them to 10 NCAA Tournaments, including four second-round appearances. His Division I record? A ridiculous 479-91, an .840 winning percentage! They won conference titles in 15 of 17 seasons. During his tenure, his teams led the country in made threes per contest six times and were in the top 6 all 17 seasons. The man knows how to get players to shoot and make threes.
Now, that philosophy is translating directly to the pros, and it has the Atlanta Dream one win away from the WNBA Finals. With Game 3 coming up, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can Smesko’s transformed shooters keep it rolling and punch their ticket to the championship round? It’s going to be a must-watch to see if this “found money” from beyond the arc becomes their consistent path to glory.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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