The Atlanta Dream are staring down elimination in the 2026 WNBA Finals, now down 3-2 to the Valkyries after a brutal 64-55 loss in Game 5. Following one of their worst offensive performances ever in the Finals, Angel Reese and coach Karl Smesko didn’t hold back, putting the blame squarely on the officials. Smesko flat-out said, “The contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous.”
From Dominant to Disappearing: Reese’s Production Takes a Nosedive
Just a few days ago, the Dream were up 2-1, feeling good with a chance to take a commanding series lead at home. Angel Reese was absolutely tearing it up, becoming only the third player ever with a 30-point, 15-rebound game in the Finals. She even joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to drop back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound games in the Finals. She was a force.
Then something shifted. In the last two games, Reese has gotten almost nothing going offensively. We’re talking eight points on 2 of 12 shooting in Game 4, and a dismal seven points on 2 of 8 in Game 5. This is wild: it’s the first time in her career she’s made two or fewer shots in consecutive games, and the first time she’s been held to single digits in back-to-back games since way back in her rookie season. What happened to her getting to the line, too? She was averaging 7.6 free throw attempts in the first three games, but only took 10 total in the last two. Four free throw attempts in Game 5 was her fewest of the entire postseason. You can feel the frustration.
“It Definitely Shifted”: Reese and Smesko Blast the Refs
Reese herself definitely noticed the Valkyries’ physicality ramping up big time starting in Game 4. She’s “still trying to figure out how to play through” it, adding, “A lot of us are getting fouled and they’re not calling it, or we’re talking to the ref after and they’re saying, ‘Oh, we’ll get you next time.’ So it is a little frustrating in the moment of it.” She sounds like she’s used to it, saying it was happening all season, but this is the WNBA Finals, man!
She went deep, recalling a possession in Game 4 where Gabby Williams “pulled me on purpose,” screaming “Foul, foul, foul,” and the refs didn’t call it. Reese was baffled: “Her team is saying it, and they’re all screaming ‘foul,’ but the refs, I don’t know what’s going on, why they can’t hear it?” She pointed out that when she switches on the post and she’s stronger than her opponent, she should be able to turn, but they’re calling offensive fouls when she’s getting pushed beforehand. It’s wild. “It definitely shifted when we went up 2-1. Things shifted and I don’t know what happened, but it definitely took a big turn.” Points have been a struggle all series for both teams, but the Dream’s offense in Game 5 was particularly awful, shooting 29.2% from the field, which is the fourth-worst in Finals history, and scoring just 55 points, tied for the 10th fewest ever.
Now, the Dream are on the brink. Down 3-2, they need to figure out how to adjust to this new level of physicality, or how to get the refs to see it the way they do. Game 6 is do-or-die, and all eyes will be on whether Angel Reese can break through, or if the officiating continues to be a major talking point.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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