A couple of days before the WNBA Finals, Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum praised Angel Reese for her impact on the Dream. McCollum even called Reese “the queen of the South.”
In a media availability on Friday, Reese, a three-time WNBA All-Star, embraced the nickname.
“Shoutout to CJ McCollum. I appreciate the love and support, and I appreciate the support from the Hawks…I guess that’s my new nickname, queen of the South. It’s cool.”
McCollum and Reese both came to Atlanta this year. In January, McCollum joined the Hawks via the trade that sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Three months later, the Chicago Sky dealt Reese and a 2028 second-round draft swap to the Dream for two future first-round picks.
For both McCollum and Reese, the impact on winning was immediate. McCollum helped the Hawks reach the postseason after back-to-back seasons missing the playoff bus, while Reese (crowned 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year) has been integral to the Dream’s unblemished playoff record heading into the Finals.
“She’s Rebuilt Her Shot From Scratch”: Dream Coach Karl Smesko Talks About Helping Angel Reese Fine-Tune Her Shooting
Angel Reese’s first season with the Dream also marks Karl Smesko’s second year as the team’s coach. In a media availability on Friday, Smesko talked about spending time with Reese during practice sessions as she worked on her shooting.
“I thought it would be a good way for Angel and me to get to know each other a little bit and develop a relationship, if we could spend some time together every day…She’s rebuilt her shot from scratch, from two weeks before the first game of the season, which is just remarkable that you’d even do that at that point.”
While Reese isn’t exactly known for her perimeter shooting, she has held her own from beyond the arc in the playoffs. When the Dream went 3-0 in the second round to eliminate the New York Liberty, Reese shot a combined 4-for-7 from deep.
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