Angel Reese took responsibility for her dismal second-half performance after the Atlanta Dream lost 68-64 to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday at the Chase Center.
The Dream had entered the championship series unbeaten in five playoff games, but their opening loss left Reese looking for ways to make a bigger impact as Atlanta tries to bounce back.
Angel Reese Explains What Went Wrong After the Break Against The Valkyries in Game 1
Reese looked unstoppable early in her first Finals appearance, scoring 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter to help Atlanta take a 22-14 lead.
She had 14 points by halftime, but the Valkyries fought back to take a 42-39 lead into the break. With the Dream needing their star forward to step up in the second half, Reese struggled to get involved offensively and failed to score after halftime.
She finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 5-of-11 from the field, but the Defensive Player of the Year attempted just two field goals in the second half.
That sharp drop in shot attempts prompted questions about what the Valkyries had done to limit her. Reese did not credit Golden State’s defense when asked about the change after the game.
“I don’t think they really did anything. Maybe that was just on me,” she said during the post-game press conference. “I wasn’t aggressive enough with the ball, trying to get the ball and trying to get to my spot. So I’m definitely gonna do a better job of that next game.”
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko also said the Dream did not get Reese the ball enough and relied too much on one-on-one play instead of moving the ball and creating better opportunities.
The loss was a frustrating one for Atlanta because they had controlled the opening quarter. But Golden State responded in the second, with Gabby Williams scoring 16 points in the period to help bring the Valkyries back into the contest.
The game remained tight after halftime, but the Valkyries finished the job efficiently. Williams finished with a game-high 26 points, while Kiah Stokes added 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Atlanta had a chance to steal the game late, but its offense stalled, managing only 8 points in the fourth quarter. Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 19 points in her return from a hand injury, while Rhyne Howard added 12.
Now, Reese and Atlanta must respond with Game 2 coming Monday in San Francisco, and the team will do everything to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole before the series moves to Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.