Angel Reese turned her frustration into a historic performance on Monday night as the Atlanta Dream bounced back from their WNBA Finals Game 1 loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
After admitting her team was disappointed with how it let the opener slip away, Reese delivered a dominant 30-point, 16-rebound performance to help Atlanta tie the series 1-1.
Angel Reese Leads Dream’s Bounce-Back With Historic WNBA Finals Performance
The Dream entered Game 2 looking to respond after a difficult finish to the series opener. Atlanta led by five points entering the fourth quarter on Saturday but managed just eight points in the final period, eventually losing 68-64.
Reese had recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1 but went scoreless in the second half as Golden State completed its comeback. She later admitted that she had not been aggressive enough in the second half and was determined to respond in Game 2.
The loss clearly stayed with Reese. The three-time All-Star backed up her words with a performance that Golden State struggled to contain. She finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds, becoming just the third player in WNBA Finals history to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a game.
Asked how she and her teammates had reset before Monday’s game, the 24-year-old made it clear that the team was unhappy with how it had handled the first opportunity.
“We all came together and were [expletive]. We felt disappointed. We felt embarrassed and we didn’t like the outcome of that last game,” Reese said. “And we didn’t want another one to let slip.”
Reese added another milestone to her growing list of achievements. At 24 years and 166 days old, she became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record a 20-point double-double. Cappie Pondexter previously held the record at 24 years and 252 days in 2007.
The night was historic for Atlanta as well. Reese became the first player in franchise history to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game, giving the Dream a performance to remember on one of its biggest stages.
The Defensive Player of the Year also explained her role on the team off the court.
“I bring a lot of energy in the locker room,” Reese said. “If it’s just a joke, if it’s just talking [expletive], it’s just my energy, and I wanted to make sure I was ready and on my toes in whatever the team needed tonight”
Her production helped Atlanta take control, while Allisha Gray added 18 points and Jordin Canada scored 13. The Dream secured a 79-65 victory, earning the franchise’s first Finals win and leveling the best-of-seven series.
The Dream will look to carry that momentum into Game 3, which moves to their home floor on Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.