Atlanta’s WNBA Finals run hinges significantly on the performance of Angel Reese, whose impact on the court has been a decisive factor for the Dream. As the series between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries has extended to a seventh and final game, Reese’s contributions in Game 6 proved critical to keeping Atlanta’s championship hopes alive.

The matchup, held on a Thursday afternoon with a 12:30 p.m. Eastern tipoff, prompted widespread discussion about how the unusual timing might affect players and fans. For Reese, the early start offered an opportunity to extend the series, something she encouraged throughout by maintaining optimism even after the Dream fell behind 3-2 in the series.

Reese, in her third professional season and first with Atlanta, serves as the team’s emotional leader and on-court catalyst. Her aggressive style—characterized by powerful drives, physical screens, and strong rebounding—sets the tone for the Dream’s overall performance. In Game 6, she capitalized on an 11-4 advantage in second-chance points to help spark a tempo that had been dormant in the previous two losses.

Strategically, Atlanta adjusted its offensive approach to leverage Reese’s playmaking abilities more effectively. The Dream commonly positioned Reese centrally with shooters spaced around the perimeter, allowing her to find teammates like Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon for timely shots early in the contest. This approach helped the team break out of a shooting slump and take a commanding lead, maintaining a double-digit margin for most of the game.

Reese, who had expressed frustration about not taking more three-point attempts in Game 5, embraced a more active role from beyond the arc. Though her shooting percentages were modest—finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds on 2-of-8 three-point shooting and 5-of-18 overall—making such shots had proven to correlate strongly with Atlanta’s success; the Dream hold a 16-0 record when Reese connects on a three-pointer.

Despite overcoming shooting struggles and committing six turnovers in Game 6, Reese’s leadership and ability to create plays for herself and others energized the team. Teammates praised her willingness to take shots and noted the confidence they place in her even during difficult stretches.

Reese said after the game that her mindset was focused on leading the team by any means necessary to achieve victory, recognizing the importance of perseverance regardless of imperfect individual performances.

As the series now moves to its decisive seventh game, much attention will remain on how Reese performs and whether she can continue to be the fulcrum for the Dream’s hopes of securing the WNBA championship.