Angel Reese called her shot almost exactly a year ago. Friday night at Barclays Center, the Dream made it real.
Atlanta beat the New York Liberty 85-83 in Game 3, completing a three-game semifinal sweep and reaching the franchise’s first WNBA Finals since 2013.
Reese is the 24-year-old forward Atlanta acquired from the Chicago Sky in April. She dropped 22 points and 9 rebounds in the closeout, was named the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year on Oct. 1, and set the league’s single-season rebound record (521).
I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting. This is my moment. I’m supposed to be here.
The tweet came last October, while Reese watched the Finals from home: “Manifesting the finals.” Almost exactly a year later she was fighting back tears at the podium.
The night had edge. Reese got in Sabrina Ionescu’s face in the second quarter after a hard screen, then drew matching technicals with Jonquel Jones after the two tangled at the rim.
Rhyne Howard added 21 points, Jordin Canada had 19 and 11 assists, and DeWanna Bonner posted 13 points and 13 rebounds. Atlanta did it without leading scorer Allisha Gray, out a second straight game with a hand injury. Breanna Stewart’s tying try rimmed out late.
“The job is not done,” Reese said. The Dream have reached the Finals four times and never won it. They now await the winner of the other semifinal.