Angel Reese exploded for 30 points and 16 rebounds Monday night as the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 at Chase Center to even the Finals at 1-1.
Atlanta, in their fourth Finals appearance, had never won a Finals game before, and it was a dream start from Reese that powered the franchise to a historic result.
Valkyries Face Nightmare Game 2 With Angel Reese Takeover at Chase Center
Looking to claw their way back into the series after a disappointing Game 1 loss, Atlanta led with a slim 39-37 margin at halftime, before outscoring Golden State 21-9 in the third quarter to take a 60-46 lead into the fourth.
The Dream led by as many as 21 points and went 30-for-35 from the line while forcing the Valkyries into 18 turnovers, as Atlanta finished with 14 steals, 6 of them by Rhyne Howard.
Beyond her 30-point, 16-rebound showstopper, Reese went 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and grabbed 4 offensive rebounds. Allisha Gray added 18 points, and Jordin Canada had 13 points and 10 assists.
Hoop Central posted Reese’s stat line after the game, and WNBA fans reacted with disbelief and vindication, with one even floating a comparison with Caitlin Clark.
Hoop Central’s post closed with a two-word verdict on Reese: “Special player.”
“The haters are in shambles; she’s doing this on the biggest stage. They can’t say anything,” a hoops fan remarked.
“I cannot believe she became this good overnight this is crazy,” another fan posted with a touch of sarcasm.
A LeBron James fan account struck a similar note: “I must’ve died and woke up in an alternate universe.”
Another James fan account went further, claiming, “Might be better than Caitlin Clark.”
While Atlanta soared high, Gabby Williams, who scored 26 for the Golden State in Game 1, could only muster 14 points on 3-of-15 shooting.
Reese’s 30 points are also three more than Clark’s playoff career high. The Indiana Fever guard scored 27, with 15 assists and 7 rebounds in a 99-89 first-round win over the Las Vegas Aces on September 29.
UnderDog’s WNBA account posted the Dream star’s historic achievement after Game 2, as she became the “youngest player with a 20-point double-double in WNBA Finals history,” ahead of Cappie Pondexter, at 24 years and 252 days in 2007, and Jonquel Jones, at 25 years and 269 days in 2019.
After the Game 1 defeat, which saw her go scoreless in the second half, Reese vowed to be more aggressive on the ball, and the three-time All-Star followed through with a record-breaking night on Monday to help her team even the series.
Thanks to Reese, a buoyant Dream side will look ahead with optimism and relief as the series moves to State Farm Arena in Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.