Angel Reese posted a historic performance on Monday night — 30 points and 16 rebounds — to lead the Atlanta Dream to a 79-65 win over the expansion Golden State Valkyries. The victory makes Reese only the third player in WNBA Finals history to record 30 points and 16 rebounds in a single game, alongside Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. It levels the best-of-seven series 1-1 and delivers Atlanta’s first-ever WNBA Finals game win.
Atlanta Dream 79, Golden State Valkyries 65. Game 2. WNBA Finals. Monday, October 19. Reese finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 10 of 16 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line. Allisha Gray added 18 points as a secondary scorer; Jordin Canada contributed 13 points and 10 assists. The series is now tied 1-1 after Golden State won Game 1. The result marks the franchise’s first win in WNBA Finals play. Game 3 shifts to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on Wednesday.
Atlanta leveled the series 1-1 on the road, and Games 3 and 4 now move to State Farm Arena in Atlanta. If Golden State cannot correct its defensive approach before Wednesday, Reese’s dominance in the paint will continue to dictate the pace. The series now depends almost entirely on whether the Valkyries can make adjustments over a short turnaround — a question their coaching staff has less time to answer than Atlanta had between Games 1 and 2.
How Atlanta Changed the Game Plan From Game 1
Reese scored 15 points in each half and sustained her impact throughout, not just in a single burst. That consistency explains how Atlanta changed its identity from Game 1. Rather than trying to match Golden State’s pace, Atlanta committed to a half-court approach anchored by Reese’s presence in the paint, converting possessions through her positioning rather than through transition.
That approach changed what Golden State’s perimeter defenders had to prioritize. Instead of occupying running lanes for fast-break opportunities, Valkyries guards were repeatedly drawn into interior defensive assignments. The Atlanta defense held Golden State to 65 points and won the third quarter 21-9, a run that put the game beyond doubt before the fourth quarter began. The difference between Games 1 and 2 was Atlanta’s execution in that third-quarter stretch, where Reese controlled the glass and Gray’s perimeter scoring kept Golden State from collapsing entirely into the paint.
Gray’s 18-point contribution was equally important. Gray’s output kept Golden State’s defense from concentrating entirely on Reese’s post activity, creating the spacing that made Reese’s positioning viable throughout the second half.
Reese is also the youngest player in WNBA history to record 20 points and 10 rebounds in a Finals game, per the WNBA’s historical records.
What did Angel Reese score in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals?
Angel Reese recorded 30 points and 16 rebounds, propelling the Atlanta Dream to a 79-65 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 to secure the franchise’s first-ever WNBA Finals game win and level the series 1-1. She is the third player in Finals history with a 30-point, 16-rebound performance, alongside Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
Game 3 tips off Wednesday at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. The Valkyries will need to present a revised defensive plan to contain Reese’s second-half impact. Check back for a full preview as tip-off approaches.
