Angel Reese drops 30 as Atlanta Dream even WNBA Finals series with Golden State Valkyries

Atlanta forward Angel Reese delivered a dominant performance on Monday night, scoring 30 points and pulling down 16 rebounds as the Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals. The victory tied the best‑of‑seven series at one game apiece and took place in front of a lively “Ballhalla” crowd at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

Allisha Gray added 18 points, while Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals. Jordin Canada contributed a near‑triple‑double, posting 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. The win marked the Dream’s first championship‑game triumph after three previous appearances that ended without a victory.

Reese praised the atmosphere and her teammates after the game, saying, “This environment is tough to play in. Shoutout to the fans. Shoutout to my team, though. We came and fought. I mean, that Game 1 was tough for us. But we moved on.” Her 30‑point, 16‑rebound line made her only the third player to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals contest, joining Jonquel Jones (2019) and Breanna Stewart (2020).

Valkyries center Kiah Stokes acknowledged the Dream’s intensity, noting, “She was definitely way more aggressive; she had a great game. We let everyone kind of have their way.”

The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday. The next two contests will be played at the NBA’s State Farm Arena, which seats more than 17,000 fans, a significant increase from the Dream’s usual home, Gateway Center Arena, which holds about 3,500. Chase Center, with a capacity of 18,064, has sold out every Valkyries home game since the team’s debut last season.

Golden State’s Gabby Williams was the only Valkyries player to reach double figures in the second half, finishing with 14 points on 3‑for‑15 shooting after scoring 26 points in Game 1. Point guard Veronica Burton lamented the team’s shooting woes, saying, “We shot terribly. We missed shots that we make all the time.”

Turnovers proved decisive. Atlanta capitalized on 19 Golden State miscues, converting them into 24 points, while the Valkyries suffered their first regulation loss since a 73‑70 defeat in Chicago on Aug. 21. In contrast, the Dream had managed only eight points off turnovers in Game 1, but returned to the defensive approach that has carried them this far.

Reese reflected on the adjustments, noting, “We watched film and saw the things that we messed up on. When I said that they didn’t do anything to mess us up, it was literally just us. And we can see that tonight. And we’re gonna carry that over in Atlanta. Atlanta, y’all better pull up and pop out; I’m looking forward to it.”