Angel Reese is on the cusp of a truly historic WNBA Finals victory with the Atlanta Dream, potentially earning her second championship ring and cementing a 2-0 lead over Caitlin Clark in the ultimate hardware battle. It took some of us, frankly, about three years to really get her game, especially if you were hooked on Clark’s Iowa performances and maybe bristled at Reese’s pointed gestures during LSU’s 2023 NCAA title win. Back then, it felt like a rivalry born of pure resentment, but these two stars found their respect in the WNBA. Make no mistake, Clark can be just as snarky on the court when the emotions are flying high, because for these players, it’s all about winning.
From Draft Snub To Finals MVP Contender
Reese’s path to this Finals moment has been anything but smooth. Remember the 2024 draft? Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Jacy Sheldon, Aaliyah Edwards, all taken before her. She finally landed with Chicago as the seventh overall pick, only to find herself on a losing squad that only got worse, suffering through a dismal 23-61 record over her two seasons there. You might have thought she’d just lean into her success in the fashion world, where she’s been a trendsetter in women’s sports for years. But winning, that’s her obsession. She basically had to force a trade to Atlanta, costing the Dream a pair of first-round draft picks, and almost instantly, her career on the court just blossomed. We’re seeing the real Angel Reese with Atlanta. All those charming, classy traits you see in the Valkyries? Reese has so much of that: she’s selfless, has a fierce work ethic, vigorously supports her teammates, and always stays in character on the court. Sure, she wears her frustration more visibly than some, but in the next breath, she’s absolutely crushing opponents with clutch shots, game-changing stops, and just relentlessly proving she’s the most efficient rebounder in league history. Her career 12.5% rate? It’s simply far above anyone else.
“She’s Just A Dog”: How Reese Dominates The Glass
Think about it: Reese does all this at a spindly 6-foot-4, even admitting, “I’m not the biggest or the strongest, and I don’t have the highest vert.” But if you watch closely, it’s all in the hands, how often she palms the ball on rebounds, the incredible length of her arms. Then there’s the positioning, how she fights to box out opponents even when she’s totally surrounded. Her teammate Naz Hillmon put it perfectly, telling reporters, “Sometimes I sit on the 3-point line and just wait for her to get the ball. Like, she’s got five people around her and she’s still getting the rebound.” Following your own shot, that’s a lost art in basketball these days, right? Not for Reese. She gets a flock of rebounds off her own misses. “If I miss and I know where it’s going, I’m gonna go get it again,” she’s said. “Like that’s what everybody should be doing.” She even takes it a step further, studying every offensive opponent in the league to figure out the spin and velocity of their shots, all to predict exactly where those misfires will land and the quickest way to get there. DeWanna Bonner summed it up best: “She’s just a dog. The motor. Her presence is unmatched, how she brings the toughness. As long as she’s out there,” you know what’s coming.
The Valkyries have their hands full, because if Reese keeps this up, she’s not just proving every single one of her doubters wrong, she’s stacking up championship rings. Get ready for the next game, because history is absolutely on the line.
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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