Angel Reese leads Atlanta Dream into 2026 WNBA championship match

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will compete for the Women's National Basketball Association championship on Saturday. CS Monitor reported that Dream star Angel Reese has demonstrated remarkable persistence throughout the season, helping to lead her team to the finals match. [1][2][4]

Reese's journey to the championship included adapting her game under coach Karl Smesko. The Houston Chronicle reported that Reese trusted Smesko to change her shooting form, which proved successful as the Dream advanced to the finals. CS Monitor highlighted her resilience despite challenges, including a close overtime loss to the Indiana Fever following a missed late-game putback attempt. [1][3]

Reese is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins and the LSU Tigers before joining the WNBA. She was raised in Randallstown, Maryland, by her mother, who also played college basketball at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. [5][8]

The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in North America composed of 15 teams, with plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030. Reese and the Atlanta Dream now prepare to take the court for the league title on Saturday. [1][7]