Angel Reese, Dream Must Bring ‘Punch First’ Mentality to Game 7 of the WNBA Finals
The first quarter ultimately dictated the outcome of Game 6 of the WNBA Finals. The Atlanta Dream got off to such a good start with a 32-15 first-quarter win, that the Golden State Valkyries simply could not catch up. They won the second half 43-34, but still lost the game 80-69.
The Dream were ready to play their style of basketball right from the jump, and they immediately set the offensive tone by hitting several big shots. The Valkyries, meanwhile, weren’t ready to match the Dream’s fight and desperation early on.
Atlanta’s hot start was not an accident. It was very much by design. They knew they would have to take control of the game early or risk having to watch the Valkyries celebrate their first championship in Atlanta.
“I’m just really proud of this group, the punch first that we emphasized,” Angel Reese said in the postgame media availability, per a video on the WNBA’s YouTube channel. “If we can punch first, we’ve won every single game.”
The Dream’s ability to replicate that punch-first mentality could very well decide who wins the championship. Punching first and not allowing the Valkyries to turn the game into a slow, low-scoring match played primarily in the halfcourt has been the Dream’s recipe for success all series long.
Angel Reese Will Be Key to a Good Start for the Dream
Angel Reese may only be in her third WNBA season and her first season with the Dream, but she is one of the team’s emotional leaders. If she comes into Game 7 ready to punch first and set the tone with her physicality, defense, and swagger, the rest of the team will follow suit.
Reese didn’t play her most efficient game—she shot 5-of-18 from the field in Game 6–but she was confident, attacking the rim off the dribble, letting 3-pointers fly, and finding her teammates in the right spots. She basically neutralized Kiah Stokes, who had been a real problem for the Dream in previous games, with her drives. Even though she was frustrated by her misses, she never truly let that change her energy.
The Valkyries have one of the best crowds in the WNBA. With the championship on the line, the atmosphere in Ballhalla promises to be absolutely electric. In such a hostile environment, the Dream will have to fabricate their own positive energy. Reese can do that, and she has played incredibly well on the Valkyries’ home court before, putting up 30 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in a historic Game 2.
The one thing Reese must be mindful of is not letting the sense of urgency and desperation that comes with playing a Game 7 in the finals make her rush her shots. When Reese rushes her shots, she struggles to score around the rim, and the Dream cannot afford that to happen with the championship on the line.
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Elaine Blum covers women’s basketball for On SI from Europe. She has been writing about women's hoops since 2023 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and a master’s degree in American Studies with a focus on women’s and gender studies. She started playing basketball when she was 10 years old and won several league and state championships at the youth and senior level.