By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
In her first WNBA Finals appearance, former LSU star Angel Reese and her Atlanta Dream fell to the Golden State Valkyries 68-64 in Game 1, but they will have their chance at revenge on Monday night in San Francisco(7 p.m., USA Network/Peacock).
Reese was the Dream’s second-leading scorer with 14 points in the series opener, her lowest mark since her first game of the playoffs. She was 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from the charity stripe. The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year also brought down 12 rebounds and recorded two steals and a block.
She did not score in the final quarter as the Valkyries overcame a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to take Game 1 on their home court. As a team, the Dream shot 2-of-20 and scored just nine points in the quarter. Golden State forward Gabby Williams finished as the game’s top scorer with 26 points.
The Dream will get their chance to respond in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday before the teams head to Atlanta. Golden State is a 2.5-point home favorite. The Valkyries have won five-straight playoff games and their last seven home games.
Before dropping Game 1, the Dream had won their last 10 in a row, including series sweeps over the Mystics and Liberty in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Atlanta is 15-7 on the road this season. Reese is averaging 17.3 points, nine rebounds, 1.7 assists, two blocks and 1.7 steals per game in her first WNBA playoff run. In her first season in Atlanta, she helped the team to a 30-14 record and its first finals appearance since 2013.
Be the first to comment