Angel Reese’s Manifestation Powers Atlanta Dream to WNBA Finals

On October 9, 2026, the Atlanta Dream completed a three-game sweep of the New York Liberty (85-83, 85-83, 85-83) to earn the franchise’s first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013. Forward Angel Reese led Game 3 with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. The series win secures a best-of-seven championship series that begins October 17 against the Golden State Valkyries.

The Sporting News

Reese entered her third season after an April 2025 trade from the Chicago Sky. She captured Defensive Player of the Year and posted career-high averages of 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds in the 2026 regular season. On October 10, 2025, she tweeted “manifesting the finals,” a line she later cited in the post-game press conference.

USA Today

• Series result: Dream 3, Liberty 0.

New York Post

• Reese’s Game 3 line: 22 points (7-18 FG, 2-4 3PT, 6-6 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks.

The Guardian

• Season averages: 16.4 pts, 12.1 reb, 2.8 ast per game; Defensive Player of the Year.

Angel Reese is justifying every past Chicago Sky demand in just one playoff run

• Playoff averages (CBSSports): 20.7 pts, 7.7 reb, 2.3 ast, 2 steals per game; 47.7 % from three.

USA Today

• Team defense: Opponents shot 31.2 % in the semifinals; Dream’s defensive rating 91.9, best among players with >=35 minutes.

ESPN

• Technical fouls: Reese incurred two postseason technical fouls, two away from a suspension under WNBA rules.

USA TodayUSA TodayBleacher ReportESPN‘She’s Never Been a C-Tier Player’: Angel Reese Leads Atlanta Dream to First WNBA Finals Since 2013 as Shannon Sharpe Says Candace Parker Owes Her an Apology Angel Reese is justifying every past Chicago Sky demand in just one playoff run

Dream head coach Karl Smesko said, “We added the perfect piece to really bring that plan to life, and Angel has been everything that we could’ve hoped for.”

In sweeping fashion, Atlanta manifests their WNBA Finals Dream

Rhyne Howard highlighted the locker-room culture, noting the Dream’s “praying group” and chapel attendance foster a supportive environment.

USA Today

• “I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew that I was getting,” — Angel Reese

Newsweek

• “When she's at her best she can be incredibly disruptive, maybe the most disruptive player defensively in the league,” — Karl Smesko

ESPN

Fox News reports Reese entered the postseason with seven regular-season technicals and two postseason technicals; USA Today notes a prior one-game suspension in September 2025 but agrees she is two technicals from a postseason suspension. Playoff scoring averages differ slightly, with ESPN citing 18.0 pts and CBSSports 20.7 pts.

USA Today

The Dream face the Golden State Valkyries in the Finals beginning October 17. Atlanta’s unbeaten postseason run (9-0) contrasts with the Valkyries’ regular-season sweep of the Dream earlier in the year. Analysts point to the Dream’s defensive intensity, anchored by Reese’s shot-blocking and rebounding, as the key test against the Valkyries’ league-lowest opponent scoring average (80.4 pts per game). Reese reiterated that “the job isn’t done,” emphasizing continued preparation for the championship series.

New York Post