Angel Reese leads Atlanta Dream to first WNBA Finals appearance

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 19:00 · Archive

Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese reached the WNBA Finals for the first time after the team swept New York Liberty 85-83 in Game 3 of the semifinals.

Angel Reese's Atlanta Dream swept the New York Liberty to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history since 2013, winning Game 3 on Friday night 85-83. Reese recorded 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. She shot 7-for-18 from the field, made two of four three-point attempts and converted all six free throws. She scored 18 points in the first half as Atlanta built a 44-39 halftime lead before surviving a second-half comeback from New York. Rhyne Howard added 21 points whilst Jordin Canada finished with 19 points and 11 assists.

Reese's Finals appearance is particularly notable because exactly one year earlier, on 10 October 2025, she had posted on social media that she was 'manifesting the Finals' for the 2026 season. After the Game 3 victory, she told ESPN: 'I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting. This team has poured so much into me. We poured so much into each other. I posted and tweeted 10/10/25 that I was manifesting the Finals, and this is my moment.'

Reese is now four wins away from a WNBA championship. This comes just over three years after she helped lead LSU to an NCAA women's basketball national championship, defeating Caitlin Clark's Iowa team in a widely watched contest.

How it is being reported

• Angel Reese's 'manifesting' one year ago actually worked – she's heading to the WNBA FinalsAngel Reese tweeted her WNBA Finals manifestation exactly one year before the Atlanta Dream swept the New York Liberty to reach the championship.Fox News · 10 Oct, 18:33
• Angel Reese says she ‘manifested’ her first WNBA Finals appearance after knocking off LibertyAngel Reese saw this moment coming.New York Post · 10 Oct, 05:14

In this story: Angel Reese · Atlanta Dream · New York Liberty · Rhyne Howard · Jordin Canada · Caitlin Clark · LSU · Iowa

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