OAKLAND, Calif. -- Angel Reese spent the better part of the past year manifesting a trip to the WNBA Finals. Now, she is just under 24 hours away from Game 1 of this year's championship series between her Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries.
In her first season with the Dream, Reese has had a career year.
Though veterans usually warn that the playoffs are a different beast, Reese has taken her production to another level in her first postseason stint.
"You have to be a playoff riser," Reese said at Finals media day Friday. "The greats are built for this. If you want to be considered the best player and well-respected, you can't shy away from the moment."
Reese is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals through five playoff games. The scoring and blocks have increased from the regular season, and she's shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc.
She has also been the anchor for the Dream's defense, which has been the best in the playoffs.
Although this is Reese's first time in the Finals, she's drawing on experience competing at high levels in college and with Team USA.
In September, Reese was a member of the gold medal World Cup team in Berlin. In 2023, she won an NCAA Title with the LSU Tigers.
"Anywhere I go, I am looking to win," Reese said. "I have won at every level I have been at. Coming into any situation, I have a winning mentality -- no matter what it looks like or what it takes."
