Dream star Angel Reese, coach Karl Smesko frustrated with fouling by Golden State in WNBA Finals

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Angel Reese is plenty accustomed to physical play, yet these WNBA Finals are at a different level even for the do-everything Atlanta Dream star.

Reese managed only eight shots and was held to seven points to go with 15 rebounds and five assists in a 64-55 Game 5 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday night while visibly showing her frustration with a handful of offensive foul calls against her.

Coach Karl Smesko took it further and criticized the officiating, after crediting Golden State's sensational defense all series.

“But I do want to have Angel's back here. The contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous, just ridiculous, and we should have gone to the foul line six to eight more times just on that,” he said. “And then to miss double-dribbles and travels, multiple, that always led to points, you can't be at this level and make that many mistakes.

"So there's things that are on us, we're missing shots we should make but at the same time that needs to be a whole lot better than it was. It's time that if you push somebody with two hands as they drive it's got to be a foul. And I'm kind of tired of some of the excuses that I'm hearing.”

The officials have been calling fouls that have gotten the Dream to the foul line. Atlanta is up 130-78 on free throw attempts in the series. The Dream took 14 foul shots on Monday to Golden State's 13.

After one foul call in the second half, Reese held her hands up questioning what she had done wrong. She shook her head after an offensive foul call as well.

“Honestly for me, I’m still trying to figure out how to play through the physicality,” Reese said. “A lot of us are getting fouled and they’re not calling it or we’re talking to the ref after and they’re saying, ‘Oh, we’ll get you next time,’ so it is a little frustrating especially in the moment of it. I’m kind of used to it because this was happening throughout the season so I have to just continue to play through it, but honestly for my teammates when they’re getting slapped to the ground or goggles knocked off it is frustrating and trying to keep them in and keep them confident.”

With two defensive-minded teams, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase dismissed any chatter about the physicality of this series, saying “I ain't shocked about this.”

“It's the Finals this is it,” she said. “Both teams, they really want to win this.”

Reese was eager and ready to regroup again as the Dream head home to host Game 6 on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT trying to stave off elimination and force a deciding Game 7 back in the Bay Area on Saturday.

“We'll figure it out,” Reese said. “We're going to have to continue to push through the physicality and hopefully those go our way next game.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) compete for possession of the ball during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) and forward Gabby Williams (1) and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and forward Naz Hillmon (00) compete for a rebound during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) knocks the ball away from Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes, left, compete for possession of the ball during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 26 points, including five points in overtime, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-125 despite 47 points from Anthony Edwards.

James Harden added 19 points, including a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left, and Evan Mobley scored 18 for the Cavaliers, who have won their last four home games against the Timberwolves.

Meleek Thomas, the 34th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, scored 16 in his NBA debut.

It is the seventh time in Edwards' five-year career he has had at least 47 points in a game. It is the most he has scored against Cleveland.

Edwards was 19 of 33 from the floor, but only 5 of 15 on 3-pointers. Jaden McDaniels had 14 points before he fouled out. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 14 off the bench.

There were 15 lead changes and five ties in the last 21 1/2 minutes

Edwards made a 3-pointer to even it at 121 before Mitchell sank a 19-foot fadeaway jumper with 48 seconds left to give the Cavaliers the lead for good.

Harden's two free throws with 13 seconds remaining put Cleveland up 125-122. Sam Merrill fouled LaMelo Ball with 9.2 seconds left but Ball missed both free throws. Edwards got the rebound and missed a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Peyton Watson then put it out of reach by sinking both his foul shots with 3.9 seconds left.

Harden tied it at 113 with 10.4 seconds remaining in regulation on a 7-foot floater from the left corner.

Minnesota led by 15 points in the second quarter and was up 69-58 with 7:31 left in the first quarter before Cleveland scored 12 straight points, including eight by Harden.

Timberwolves: Host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Cavaliers: Host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas shoots and hits a three-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) gestures in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, right, defends Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, top, blocks a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Peyton Watson (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) shoots in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas, left, and guard Peyton Watson, rear, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)