‘We’ll be back’: Angel Reese sends message after losing Game 7 of WNBA Finals
· Yahoo Sports
The Atlanta Dream came up one win short of a WNBA championship on Saturday night, falling to the Golden State Valkyries in the first Game 7 in Finals history. But Angel Reese isn’t worried about the team’s future.
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Despite a quiet night of her own, Reese said after the game that she is proud of what the Dream accomplished this season. And she made it clear that she expects Atlanta to be right back in the mix next year.
Valkyries Win First Title
The Dream took a 2-1 lead in the series before dropping two straight games. They forced a Game 7 by beating the Valkyries 80-69 in Game 6 on Thursday, with Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard combining for 44 points.
Atlanta led by nine points midway through the third quarter of Game 7 at Chase Center. But Gabby Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half to lead the Valkyries to a 68-63 win, earning Finals MVP honors as Golden State won its first championship in just its second season.
Reese had been a force early in the series, combining for 51 points and 28 rebounds in Atlanta’s wins in Games 2 and 3. But she struggled late in the series, finishing Game 7 with eight points on 3-of-7 shooting, 12 rebounds, and four turnovers.
The series also drew attention off the court. Both teams stayed off the court for the national anthem in all seven games, drawing criticism from conservatives, including President Donald Trump, but the players did what they could to keep the focus on basketball in the hotly-contested series.
‘We’ll Be Back’
After the loss, Reese said that the defeat was hard to take, but she’s confident in the team.
“It is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back,” Reese said, via OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske.
Reese, who won a national championship at LSU in 2023, credited her teammates for helping her grow during her first season in Atlanta.
“I’m really proud of the year that I had,” Reese said. “I mean, I’ve done a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without this group.”
“I’m a young player and I’m very vocal, but I think they really helped me a lot mature in different ways that I haven’t really been challenged,” she added. “And they really challenged me to be better every single day.”
Reese said that the team’s chemistry is why she believes Atlanta can win a title.
“There’s no egos in the locker room and nobody’s selfish,” Reese said. “Like, everybody just wants to see each other succeed.”
“When you have a team like that, I’ve been a part of some teams and I know what it takes to win a championship,” she continued. “And that’s the winning mindset.”
‘Forever Grateful’
Reese also thanked Atlanta’s fans for their support throughout the season.
“I love these girls. I love the coaches,” Reese said. “I think it also sucks because our fan base back home poured into us so much this year, and we really wanted to do it for them, but we’re forever grateful.”
She added that she’s looking forward to another offseason under head coach Karl Smesko.
“Just because we didn’t win today doesn’t mean that we won’t be champions in the future,” Reese said.
Clearly, Reese already has her eyes on next season.
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