Angel Reese has never been shy about making headlines, but heading into Game 7 of the WNBA Finals, the spotlight is about to get even brighter.
After all the confidence, swagger and bold comments throughout the season, Reese has one final opportunity to prove she can deliver when the championship is on the line. And after her latest shooting performance, the pressure is certainly not going away.
Game 6 was another frustrating night offensively for Reese. Despite Atlanta escaping with an 80-69 victory over Golden State, she shot just 5-of-18 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range. She also struggled with turnovers, giving critics plenty to talk about.
Yes, she finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, but the shooting efficiency was difficult to ignore. Atlanta also received a massive scoring effort from Allisha Gray, who led the team with 23 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21.
Reese has had some impressive moments during these Finals, but her performances have been inconsistent. In Atlanta’s three victories, she’s averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. In its losses, those numbers have dropped to 9.7 points, 12 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
And then there’s the confidence.
Reese has made plenty of headlines with her comments this season, including her declaration that the Dream weren’t bringing everyone out at 12:30 p.m. for no reason after forcing Game 7. She’s also leaned into her confident personality and the attention surrounding her throughout the year.
That confidence is part of what makes Reese such a recognizable figure in basketball. But when you talk big, the expectations become even bigger.
Now there’s no more time to talk. Game 7 is the biggest stage of the season, and Reese has a chance to put together the type of performance that silences every critic.
If she struggles again, however, the criticism will only get louder.
