Angel Reese Warns Dream ‘Can’t Feel Comfortable’ Before WNBA Finals Game 2

Angel Reese told the Atlanta Dream before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Monday that they cannot let another one go at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted video of the availability about an hour before the 8 p.m. ET tip-off. The Golden State Valkyries took Game 1 68-64 on Saturday and hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Reese said Golden State is a tough team. Atlanta is 0-4 against the Valkyries this season, and three of those losses came in the regular season between June 24 and July 4.

"We let one slip away, we let one go away," Reese said. "We can't feel comfortable, especially on the road. I told the team, going into that fourth quarter, it's like the best team. They're like the best team in the fourth quarter."

"No matter how much we have to keep putting their foot on the pedal and continue to just be us and do who we are and get back to ourselves," Reese continued.

Golden State outscored Atlanta 17-8 in Saturday's fourth quarter. The Dream had carried a 56-51 lead into it, and their last points came on 2 Rhyne Howard free throws with 3:12 left that made it 64-61.

From there, the Valkyries scored 7 straight, every one at the line, with Gabby Williams making 6 of those free throws on the way to 26 points.

Reese had a double-double in each of the three regular-season meetings, averaging 14.0 points and 12.3 rebounds with 17 offensive rebounds across those games, Field Level Media reported.

She opened Game 1 by making 5 of her first 6 shots for 11 first-quarter points. Her other 5 field-goal attempts missed.

Reese ended Game 1 with 14 points and 12 rebounds. After the game, she put the rest of it on herself, saying she had not been aggressive enough with the ball, and Dream coach Karl Smesko said Atlanta did not get her the ball enough after a great first half.

The Valkyries changed how they guarded Reese after the first quarter. Kiah Stokes blocked 4 of their 10 shots, which tied her playoff career high.

Atlanta had won 10 straight before Game 1, a franchise record. The last five came in the playoffs, 2-0 over the Washington Mystics and 3-0 over the New York Liberty, with the clincher an 85-83 win in New York on Oct. 9.

The Minnesota Lynx swept the Dream in the 2011 and 2013 Finals. Seattle swept them in 2010, winning three games by a combined 8 points.

Reese wants to steal one in San Francisco before the series goes home.

"I watched the film, looked back at the spots that I could have had more advantages, and just being assertive," Reese explained. "I can't let my team down and not being able to assert myself in the second half like I did last game."

Atlanta closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run and led 22-14. The spacing from that stretch is where Reese wants the Dream to start Monday.

"We had a lot of good spots, actually, in the last game," Reese said. "Our first quarter was amazing when we had great spacing, when we were screening away, when we were getting each other open. So we just have to get back to who we are."

"I think our second half fatigue looked like it kicked in for all of us," Reese added. "And that's no excuse at all. But we just have to be better down the stretch. We're going to utilize our bench. And I know our bench is going to be ready today. So I'm looking forward to everybody for 40 minutes being able to put out for a fight."

Golden State's reserves outscored Atlanta's 20-6 in Game 1. DeWanna Bonner, who scored 23 points off the bench in the semifinal opener against New York on Oct. 4, had 2 points Saturday.

Allisha Gray scored 19 in her first game back. She had missed the last two games of the Liberty series after hurting the ring finger on her left hand, her shooting hand, on Oct. 4. Gray was 5-of-19 from the field and 8-of-8 at the line.

Games 3 and 4 are at State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks. The Dream played most of their regular season at Gateway Center Arena, which seats 3,500.

Game 3 was first set for Thursday, Oct. 22, and the league moved it up a day because of a Sombr concert at State Farm Arena. Tip-off is 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on USA Network and CNBC.

Game 4 is Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, 2 1/2 hours earlier than originally scheduled.