Angel Reese fuels Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals surge and is now 2 wins from her first title

ATLANTA (AP) — Angel Reese has always exuded confidence on and off the basketball court.

In her first season with Atlanta, she's already become the team's emotional leader and now has the Dream two wins away from the first WNBA championship in franchise history. Game 4 is Saturday.

“I just want to be able to come in every day and just pour into everybody, bring energy, bring the morale because I think it’s contagious,” Reese said after the 97-71 victory on Wednesday night over Golden State. “I’m hype all the time and bringing confidence into everybody. Like, you’re not taking this from us. In my heart, I’m not letting you take this from us, and I think it becomes contagious within the team. They feel that confidence, too.

“So that’s kind of been my mindset throughout the entire season. Just being able to want it more than anybody else.”

Reese, who came to Atlanta from Chicago in an offseason trade, has made the most of her first postseason appearance since coming into the league three years ago. She became only the second player in finals history with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, joining A'ja Wilson.

At 24 years old, she also became the youngest with three straight double-doubles in the finals.

“Angel shows up in every game,” said point guard Jordin Canada, a two-time champion. “Some people only show up at big games, but she’s consistent with that, and she brings her teammates along.”

Reese has raised her game offensively this postseason and is averaging 21.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in the WNBA Finals to help the Dream take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. She always has had an incredible motor where she has been able to outwork people on both ends of the court. Now her offensive game has caught up.

“It’s really hard to match Angel’s energy, but we just try to do our part … just doing the little things to get into it. She brings a ton of energy. It’s very infectious,” Dream forward Naz Hillmon said. “She brings her teammates with her, as (everyone) can see. So just continuing to beat into it and go along with what she’s got going on.”

Reese entered the WNBA with criticism of her offensive game. She didn't shoot much outside of the lane and detractors said many of her rebounds came from her own misses. Now she is hitting 3-pointers at 47% in the postseason and shooting about the same from the field overall thanks to the trust she had in Atlanta coach Karl Smesko to change her shot.

Now she's only two wins away from adding a WNBA title to her ever-growing resume. She won an NCAA championship at LSU and a World Cup title this past September. When asked after the Game 3 win if she belonged in the conversation with other Atlanta sports greats like Hank Aaron, Dominique Wilkins and Deion Sanders, Reese deflected the notion.

“I’ve only been here six months, so I don’t know how y’all can give me that yet,” she said. “My goal was to come to Atlanta and win a championship. And I think you become one of the greats and you come one of the best when you can win and impact winning. And that’s all I wanted to do coming here. Everything else really doesn’t matter to me.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) react after a foul during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) dribbles during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — George Russell can look across the Mercedes garage and see the excitement building for teammate Kimi Antonelli.

The young Italian is rapidly closing in on his first Formula 1 championship. Antonelli could even win it Sunday at the United States Grand Prix if he wins and other results fall his way.

Many thought that would be Russell when the season started in Australia. Russell won his eighth career victory in a new generation Mercedes that was the class of the field.

Instead, the British driver heads into the final stretch of the season far behind his teammate, and fending off mounting frustration, and hoping he can somehow pick off a win or two to send him into a better 2027.

“It’s been a season that has very much tested my character and resilience,” Russell said this week.

In some respects its been arguably the best of his career. He's won three times, a career high. He is second in the championship.

But the gap to Antonelli, who overtook him with five consecutive wins early in the season, represents a chasm of disappointment.

Antonelli simply dominated the Mercedes garage. He'll be aiming for win No. 9 this season.

Week after week, Antonelli got the better of Russell.

They engaged in a furious battle in Canada, where they exchanged lead several times over 30 laps. Russell started on pole and engine failure ended his race. Russell threw his headrest across the track and slammed his fists into the front of his car in anger.

A crash knocked him out of the Belgian Grand Prix. Another engine failure forced him to withdraw from the race in Malaysia.

Car upgrades didn't work either, and Antonelli's lead just kept growing. In five of Antonelli's victories, Russell was fourth or worse.

Russell trails Antonelli by 102 points heading into Sunday's race. Antonelli can close it out with a victory and ninth place or lower finish by Russell, and a fifth-place finish or lower for Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

“It’s not over until it’s over. That’s why the mindset is always going to be the same: to win whenever I go on track,” Antonelli said.

Even if the championship stretches into the next race in Mexico City, there is little chance of catching Antonelli. Time is just running out on the season.

Russell is determined to keep fighting for wins, championship or not.

“I’ve had to look at myself in the mirror numerous times and think, ‘How do I want to bounce back from these blows?’ Do I just want to give up and accept the misfortune or the poor performances, or do I want to try to rectify things, make the most of it and control everything I can control," he said.

Russell said he's capable of doing that.

“I intend to be here for many, many, many years to come, and you can’t give up when you’re being kicked to the floor,” Russell said. "You’ve got to bounce back. I can at least be proud that I’ve given it my all in that regard.”

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car into a turn during the first practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy prepares for the second practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Vryn)

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car into a turn during the second practice session for the Formula One United States Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)