Angel Reese: 'Delayed, Not Denied' After Atlanta Dreams Fall Short in WNBA Finals
The star defender praised her teammates and coach Karl Smesko after a 68-63 loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
By Leila Reynolds ·
The Atlanta Dreams lost their WNBA Finals series to the Golden State Valkyries with a final score of 68-63. Angel Reese, the team’s leading figure, addressed reporters immediately after the game. She described the team’s effort as a collective battle that spanned the entire season.
Reese stated that the group of players had changed her life. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete alongside them. “It’s always hard, especially with a great group that I’ve had the honor to battle with all year,” she said. “They changed my life and I am just so grateful for them, so thankful for them.”
She emphasized the resilience of the roster despite the immediate disappointment of the loss. Reese noted that the team is still in its early years. “And it is tough in the moment but we’ll be back,” she said. “I always say delayed, not denied. It’s only year three, they got a lot more years left too. I’m just really grateful that I got to go to war with this team.”
This season marked Reese’s first year with the Atlanta franchise. She also played in the league’s first ever Game 7 in Finals history. Her statistical performance broke double double records in both the regular season and the playoffs. Additionally, she received her first Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Reese credited head coach Karl Smesko for the team’s development. She highlighted the correlation between individual improvement and collective success. “When individually you get better in the offseason, you get better collectively, and you can see that Karl puts a lot of work in,” she said. “I’m sure he’s going to see all of us this offseason, and I’m honestly looking forward to another year under Karl and his development and his system.”
The series drew large crowds that outgrew the Gateway Center Arena, which seats 7,000. The team moved its games to the State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, which has a capacity of 16,000. Celebrities including Usher, Monica, and TI attended the games to support the team.
The WNBA draft is scheduled for April 12. An official start date for the next season has not yet been announced.
