Angel Reese has advanced to the WNBA Finals, moving past Caitlin Clark, after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Liberty. Reese highlighted a significant moment from her journey in a postgame interview. During training camp, her coach, Karl Smesko, halted a drill and required her to make two consecutive 3-pointers. This challenged her in front of her new teammates on the Atlanta Dream.
Reese, playing as #5 for the Atlanta Dream, recalled feeling uneasy about being embarrassed among her teammates. “It’s difficult not to rush success,” Reese stated. “I had to be patient. I remember during training camp, Coach Smesko halted everyone and told me to make two shots in a row. The drill couldn’t continue until I did. I felt upset at the time.”
Reese has been known for her shooting struggles but has embraced it, even launching merchandise called ‘Mebounds’ in 2025. This plays on the concept of missing shots and rebounding.
Asked how many attempts it took, Reese didn’t recall the exact number. However, Coach Smesko added it wasn’t many. Reese’s teammates supported her, though she felt embarrassed then. Now, Reese made crucial 3-pointers securing Atlanta’s win against the Liberty, sending them to their first Finals since 2013.
Throughout Reese’s career, her shooting has been under scrutiny. She addressed criticisms from her rookie season, where she had a 39.1% shooting success rate. Improvements followed, with a 45.1% rate this season in Atlanta. Her 3-point accuracy also saw gradual growth, with playoff performance showing a 38.5% successful hit rate.
Reese led the WNBA in rebounding and earned Defensive Player of the Year. She powered the Dream with 22 points and nine rebounds in the semifinal victory. Her trade from Chicago to Atlanta was pivotal; she left Chicago after a non-playoff season.
The Atlanta Dream had achieved a franchise-record 30-win season before Reese joined a solid squad with stars like Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada. They finished with a 30-14 record, holding a strong playoff position. Despite losing center Brionna Jones and Allisha Gray to injuries, the team secured their Finals position.
Clark, Reese’s 2024 WNBA peer, had faced her challenges, missing playoffs due to injury. She led in scoring this year but saw Indiana’s early elimination. Reese and the Dream aim for Atlanta’s first WNBA title, with the finals beginning on October 17.
Jackson Thompson, a Fox News Digital sports reporter, covers essential political and cultural issues in sports, often recognized for investigative reporting.
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