Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images Divij Kulkarni Sun, October 18, 2026 at 4:32 AM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angel Reese struggled in the latter half of her first WNBA Finals game, but she didn't give her opponents any credit for it.
The Golden State Valkyries' stellar defence kicked in during the fourth quarter of their 68-64 win against the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The team found themselves down towards the end of the game, but they held the Dream to just two made field goals in the last 10 minutes of the matchup.
Angel Reese started the game on fire. She had 11 points in the first quarter. But the Valkyries completely shut her down during the entire second half. She went scoreless after the break. Despite their tough defensive pressure, though, Reese suggested that her issues had nothing to do with her opponents.
Reese knows a thing or two about good defence. She was named the WNBA's Defensive Player of the Year for 2026. The Valkyries' Gabby Williams was her main rival for the award, but Golden State's defensive identity goes far beyond just their star.
While some players may have accepted that their rivals got the better of them during a game, Reese's comments after the game implied that her attention was focused on her own decision-making.
"I don't think they really did anything," Reese told the media. "That was just on me, I wasn't aggressive enough with the ball. Just need to get the ball and get to my spots. So, definitely going to do a better job of that next game."
Reese's answer shows her maturity. The Dream star seems focused on controlling what she can instead of worrying about what her rivals are doing. 14 points in Game 1 shows that Angel can definitely score if she is at her best and that is exactly what Atlanta fans will want to see in Game 2.
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Source: Sports
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