Game 2 against the Golden State Valkyries turned into a statement night for Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese. After seeming frustrated that her teammates were not passing her the ball, she made a play to show her team could trust her on offense.
The sequence went viral, and fans on social media hyped up Reese for the way she took charge.
Fans Commend Angel Reese As She Took Charge Against the Valkyries
The Dream needed a hero in Game 2 against the Valkyries on Monday, and Reese answered the call. But in the third quarter, she appeared visibly agitated with her teammates for not passing her the ball.
Around the seven-minute mark of the third quarter, the three-time All-Star jostled for position in the post while her teammates passed the ball around the perimeter as the shot clock wound down.
Even when Reese seemingly had a favorable matchup, her teammates failed to get her the ball. She then walked away from the paint, appearing to quit on the play, while Allisha Gray was forced into a contested 3-pointer that missed.
Several possessions later, the 6-foot-4 star showed why her teammates should pass her the ball. On a fast break, she took the ball hard into the paint against Valkyries center Kiah Stokes.
Reese completed the shot through contact and then demanded that her teammates pass to her.
“Give me the [expletive] ball,” she exclaimed as she headed to the free-throw line.
The tough and-1 finish impressed and fired up fans, who took to social media to show their praise.
“She knows that team has 0️⃣ answers for her. Just dominate #WNBAFinals,” one X user said.
“It’s literally a mismatch every time. Should’ve done this in the 4th last game,” another commented.
“She’s a dawg🔥,” someone exclaimed.
“WNBA diesel is tryna tell yall,” a comment read.
“Omg I’m shaking,” a fan shared.
“Best player on the floor by miles,” another WNBA observerclaimed.
Reese then sank the free throw, scoring her 18th point of the game to make it 45-42, and the Dream did not look back.
From there, Reese and company took control of the game, and their lead continued to grow.
Midway through the fourth quarter, they were up by as much as 21. When the final buzzer sounded, the Dream had won 79-65, tying the series 1-1.
Reese led her team on the stat sheet with a game-high 30 points and 16 rebounds. She also drew attention in aviral moment with the Valkyries’ center, Aminata Gueye, in the first quarter.
This incredible double-double performance showed that Reese is capable of leading her team. If Atlanta hopes to win the championship, she will have to continue being a linchpin for her team on both ends of the floor.
The pressure is now on the Valkyries to respond as the series moves to Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday. To win, they need to limit Reese’s impact, which is a tall order given her momentum.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.