Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-24**Lead**
SAN FRANCISCO — Angel Reese’s bold pregame comments came back to haunt her on Thursday night. The Chicago Sky forward, who had declared earlier in the week that “nobody in this league can guard me,” struggled mightily as the Golden State Valkyries overwhelmed the Atlanta Dream 88-73 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center. The loss evens the best-of-five series at one game apiece, shifting momentum firmly toward the expansion Valkyries.
**Context**
Reese, a two-time All-Star known for her relentless rebounding and emotional leadership, was coming off a dominant Game 1 performance in which she posted 22 points and 15 rebounds. But her bravado this week drew extra attention. In a media session on Wednesday, she told reporters that her game had “reached another level” and that the Valkyries’ frontcourt had “no answer” for her inside scoring. The remarks quickly made rounds on social media and were played on the arena’s video board during pregame warmups, visibly energizing the Golden State crowd.
Once the game began, Reese found herself trapped in a web of double‑teams and aggressive help defense designed by Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase. Golden State’s starting center, Alanna Smith, played physical defense from the opening tip, while forward Kayla Thornton and reserve guard Kate Martin repeatedly dug down on Reese’s post touches. The result was a nightmarish shooting line: Reese finished 3‑of‑14 from the field, missed all three of her three‑point attempts, and turned the ball over five times. She did manage 10 rebounds, but her lack of offensive rhythm dragged the Dream’s half‑court offense to a halt.
The Valkyries, meanwhile, executed a disciplined game plan. Guard Tiffany Hayes led all scorers with 24 points, hitting four threes and creating constant pressure in transition. Forward Leonie Fiebich added 18 points and seven rebounds, while rookie guard Caitlin Clark orchestrated the offense with 11 assists. Golden State shot 48% from the field and forced 17 Atlanta turnovers, turning them into 22 fast‑break points. The Dream, by contrast, shot just 38% and never led after the first quarter.
This series had already been billed as a clash between experience and youthful ambition. The Dream, a veteran‑laden squad that won the regular‑season title, rely heavily on Reese’s interior scoring and the perimeter shooting of guard Rhyne Howard (who struggled in Game 2 as well, scoring only 12 points on 4‑of‑13 shooting). The Valkyries, in just their second season after entering the league as an expansion team in 2025, have surprised many by reaching the Finals behind a pace‑and‑space offense and relentless defense. Game 1 was a close affair won by Atlanta 82‑80; Game 2 was never in doubt after a 12‑0 Valkyries run in the second quarter.
**Analysis**
The dramatic turnaround between Games 1 and 2 underscores how quickly momentum can shift in a Finals series. For Atlanta, the primary concern is whether Reese can bounce back mentally. She has a history of responding to adversity with strong performances — she averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds in the semifinals after a poor outing in Game 2 of that series — but the spotlight of the Finals is brighter. Her bold comments have now become a storyline that could either fuel a comeback or add pressure. The Dream’s coaching staff will likely spend the off day adjusting their half‑court sets to free Reese from double‑teams, perhaps by using more screen‑and‑roll actions with her as the roller rather than the post‑up option.
For the Valkyries, this win validates the defensive adjustments they made. By sending weak‑side help earlier and forcing Reese into contested jump hooks, they took away her most efficient shots. Offensively, the ball movement was crisp, with Clark pushing the tempo and Hayes hitting pull‑up jumpers off screens. Golden State now has home‑court advantage for Game 3 and Game 4, both to be played at Chase Center, and will feel confident if they can maintain their defensive intensity.
The series now becomes a best‑of‑three, with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday night. The Dream will need to regain their composure and find secondary scoring to support Reese. The Valkyries, meanwhile, will seek to capitalize on their momentum and take control of the series before it returns to Atlanta.
**Sources**
Game statistics and play‑by‑play data from the official WNBA website. Post‑game remarks from both teams’ press conferences were made available to accredited media. Background on player performance and series history compiled from WNBA.com and ESPN’s WNBA Finals coverage.