Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream faced continued challenges in their efforts to advance in the 2026 WNBA Finals, falling 64-55 to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 5 on October 26. The loss put the Valkyries ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, leaving the Dream on the brink of elimination.

Reese, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, was held to seven points despite pulling down 15 rebounds and dishing out five assists in the contest. The Atlanta star, who had opened the Finals with three consecutive double-doubles—including a remarkable 30-point, 16-rebound performance in Game 2—struggled to maintain her early series dominance. Her production declined after Golden State increased their physical defense, limiting her to eight or fewer points in the two most recent games.

Following the defeat, Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko criticized the officiating, particularly what he described as uneven foul calls on Reese. “The contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous,” Smesko said. He expressed frustration over missed calls that he believed hindered his team’s ability to draw fouls and capitalize at the free-throw line. Smesko noted the Dream should have been awarded six to eight more trips to the line and cited missed infractions such as double dribbles and travels that led to opposing points.

Reese echoed her coach’s concerns, highlighting the discrepancies in whistle calls. She was limited to eight shot attempts and four free-throw attempts during the game, while accumulating four personal fouls, including three offensive fouls that resulted in turnovers. Reese pointed out a turning point in the officiating starting with Game 4, describing how the calls against her became more frequent and unfavorable. She shared frustration over offensive fouls called when she was physically pushed by defenders in post-up situations.

“I know I have the mismatch,” Reese said. “When I do switch on the post and I’m stronger than the opponent, I should be able to turn and play, but I’m getting called for offensive fouls even when I’m being pushed before that.” She also noted the frustration of seeing teammates endure intense physicality without consistent foul calls, underscoring the mental challenge of maintaining focus.

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase responded to questions about the game’s physical nature by emphasizing the competitive intensity typical of a finals series. “Both teams really want to win this,” Nakase said. “These are two defensive-minded teams, so physicality is expected.” She praised the Dream for their toughness, referring to them as a “well-coached” and resilient squad.

The series now moves back to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena for Game 6 on Thursday, where the Dream will face elimination unless they secure a victory. Reese remains optimistic about the team’s chances heading into their home game. “Our backs are against the wall, but we get to go home and play in front of our crowd,” she said. “I feel good about ourselves. As long as we’re all on the same page, we can do it.” Should the Dream win, the series would shift to a decisive Game 7 in San Francisco on Saturday.