Angel Reese Leads Dream Past Valkyries in Game 3, Atlanta Takes 2-1 WNBA Finals Lead

Angel Reese delivered another Finals double-double Wednesday night as the Atlanta Dream overwhelmed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals. Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, giving her a double-double in each of the first three games of the series. Atlanta controlled the night in front of a charged home crowd and moved two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.

The Dream’s advantage went well beyond Reese’s scoring. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and continued making an impact defensively, while Atlanta held Golden State to 35 percent shooting. The Valkyries briefly threatened to make a push, but Atlanta answered and pulled away decisively. After dropping Game 1 in Golden State, the Dream have now responded with back-to-back victories, including Monday’s 79-65 win behind Reese’s 30-point, 16-rebound performance.

The larger story is how quickly Reese has taken control of the series. Her combination of physical rebounding, interior scoring and energy has become a matchup Golden State has yet to solve consistently. Atlanta now gets another game at State Farm Arena on Saturday with a chance to move within one victory of the title. After entering the Finals without a single Finals game win in franchise history, the Dream suddenly have control of the series—and Reese is at the center of it.