Angel Reese Pledges Return After Dream Fall to Valkyries
The 24-year-old star posted her first update since losing the inaugural WNBA Game 7, citing her third-year experience as a foundation for future success.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Angel Reese declared on social media that her championship aspirations are merely postponed, not canceled, following the Atlanta Dream's loss in the first Game 7 in WNBA history. The 24-year-old forward used the platform to address the ending of her third season, stating that she feels numb but remains proud of the team's journey.
In her post, Reese emphasized that few players reach the Finals in their third year. She wrote that every loss serves as a lesson and that the answer is sometimes not no, but not yet. She concluded with the phrase, delayed, not denied, while expressing that she remains hungry for more basketball.
Reese earned the Defensive Player of the Year award during the regular season. She averaged 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Her 521 rebounds set a new WNBA single-season record. Her field goal percentage for the year stood at 45.1 percent.
Her statistical output dipped in the championship series. In the Finals, she averaged 14.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. She shot 40.5 percent from the field over the course of the series. The Minnesota Valkyries won the decisive Game 7 by a score of 68 to 63 to claim the title in their second season.
Reese finished Game 7 with eight points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks. She made three of seven shots from the field, one of three three-point attempts, and one of three free throws. Critics focused on her performance and earlier trash talk, specifically the gesture she and Naz Hillmon made after the Dream won Game 3.
Reese plans to use the offseason to rest and train in Florida. She will not play in the Unrivaled league and has paused her podcast. She intends to focus on working out and spending time with her partner, Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. She also used her social media post to thank her mother, who shares her name, for supporting her through the highs and lows of the season.
During a postgame press conference, Reese acknowledged the difficulty of losing to a strong group of teammates. She stated that the experience changed her life and that she would battle alongside the same group again. She noted that the opposing team has many years remaining in their careers, just as she does. The Valkyries will hold a victory parade on Wednesday, November 4, along the San Francisco Embarcadero.
The WNBA season is scheduled to resume on May 1. A new commissioner will take over following Cathy Engelbert's retirement. The Connecticut Sun will relocate to Houston and become the Comets, reviving a franchise name associated with four previous championships.
