Dream's Angel Reese is on pace to set Finals mark not seen since Shaquille O'Neal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Through two games of the 2026 WNBA Finals, Angel Reese is averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds per game.
It's a window into how her first-ever Finals could prove historic.
Reese laid waste to the Golden State Valkyries' vaunted defense on Monday, dropping a 30-point, 16-rebound double-double as she led the Atlanta Dream to their first-ever victory in the championship series.
MORE: Angel Reese refused to let the Dream lose Game 2 of the WNBA Finals
In the 79-65 win at San Francisco's Chase Center, Reese shot 10-of-16 from the field, following up her 5-of-11 shooting night from Saturday's Game 1 defeat.
That means Reese is shooting 55 percent for the series while averaging better than 20 points per game. If she maintains that pace, she would be the youngest player to achieve those figures in the Finals since Shaquille O'Neal did so for the Orlando Magic in 1995.
Angel Reese is on pace to be the youngest player to average 20+ PPG on 55% FG in the Finals since Shaq in 1995. https://t.co/U3mW1YLIY9
— Real App (@realapp) October 20, 2026
Perhaps it's a bad omen for Reese that O'Neal's Magic lost the Finals in 1995, suffering a four-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
But if Reese's young career has taught us anything, it's that any expectations or preconceived notions should be checked at the door.
More WNBA news:
Dream breaks unwanted 16-year record in WNBA Finals Game 2 win
Rhyne Howard makes WNBA Finals history in game that barely shows up in scoring column
Tiffany Hayes sends a message with WNBA Finals pregame outfit before Game 2
DeWanna Bonner's understated WNBA Finals arrival shows another side of tunnel fashion