The Atlanta Dream’s championship dreams came crashing down in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Saturday night, falling 68-63 to the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center, despite Angel Reese’s 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks. It was a brutal end to the season, but Reese wasted no time making her promise, declaring, “We’ll be back.”
What Went Wrong in Game 7?
Atlanta had history on its side going into Game 7. No team that led at halftime had lost a game in the first six contests of this WNBA Finals series, and the Dream held a six-point advantage at the break. Plus, this season, Atlanta was a perfect 16-0 when Angel Reese hit a 3-pointer. She even banked one early in the second quarter, bringing her total to five points in the game. You’d think that would be enough. But then, the wheels fell off. Reese went silent offensively, scoring only three points in the entire final 29 minutes of the game. That’s a brutal offensive drought for a player so central to her team’s success. Golden State’s Gabby Williams, on the other hand, went absolutely supernova. She dropped 28 of her 30 points in the second half, leading the Valkyries to their first championship and earning MVP honors. Both of Atlanta’s perfect streaks ended at the worst possible time.
Reese’s Rollercoaster Finals Performance
Angel Reese’s entire Finals run was a tale of two different players, which is a tough pill to swallow now. She came to the Dream in a trade this past offseason and was undeniably key to their success in the championship series. When she was playing well offensively, Atlanta didn’t lose. In their three victories, Reese was averaging 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists. Those are dominant numbers. But in the losses, her production plummeted: 9.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. She shot a dismal 12 for 38 from the field in those defeats. Rebounding was a constant, though, as she set a WNBA Finals record with 90 rebounds overall. She’s got a college title from LSU in 2023 and even helped USA Basketball snag its fifth consecutive women’s FIBA World Cup championship in September. But the Dream’s first title, after four tries in the finals, just wasn’t in the cards.
What a gut punch for Reese and the Dream. But hey, she’s a champion, and she knows what it takes. Her pledge is out there: “We’ll be back.” That’s the fighting spirit you want to see. We’ll be watching closely to see how she and the Dream rally and what moves they make to live up to that promise next season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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