Angel Reese delivered an emotional message after the Atlanta Dream’s heartbreaking Game 7 defeat, thanking her teammates and promising that the championship disappointment would not define their future. The Dream fell 68-63 to the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center, which ended their pursuit of their first WNBA title, just one victory short.

Speaking next to teammates Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray, Reese struggled with disappointment and was overcome with emotion, but she still expressed gratitude for the group that helped her reach the Finals in her third season.

“I mean, yeah, it’s tough, especially with the good group and great group that I’ve honestly been and had an honor to battle with all year. They changed my life, and I’m just so grateful for them, and I’m so thankful for them.

“And it is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back. And I always say, delayed, not denied. And this is only year three. They got a lot more years left, too. But I’m just really grateful that I got to go to war with this group, and I would do it again, all over again.”

Reese finished the deciding game with eight points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 33 minutes. She shot three of seven from the field, made one of three free throws, and committed four turnovers.

Her rebounding and defensive contributions did help the Dream remain competitive, but they needed more from her on the offensive end. Reese scored just three points after halftime as the Valkyries overturned a six-point deficit.

The closing stretch brought even further frustration. Kiah Stokes collected consecutive offensive rebounds after Gabby Williams’ missed attempts, finishing the second with a putback that extended the Valkyries’ lead to 64-57 with 53.8 seconds remaining.

Reese later missed the first of two free throws with 18.6 seconds left. The Dream continued to fight, but Veronica Burton’s late free throws helped secure the championship.

The defeat also intensified Reese’s offensive struggles during the later stages of the series. Across Games 4 through 6, she shot 12 of 45 from the field, approximately 26.7%, and committed 19 turnovers. But the Dream’s scoring problems extended beyond just one player. The Dream shot just 33% overall and made just six of 33 three-point attempts in Game 7. Canada led them with 18 points, while Gray added 16.

Gabby Williams supplied the decisive performance for the Valkyries. After scoring just two first-half points, she erupted for 28 points after the break, finishing with 30 points, two steals, and four blocks. Her second-half scoring nearly matched the Dream’s entire team total, which produced 33 points over the final two quarters.

She deservedly earned Finals MVP as the Valkyries celebrated a championship in only their second season in existence.

For the Atlanta Dream, another Finals appearance ended without a trophy. Still, reaching a deciding seventh game offered evidence of what this group can accomplish, even as its Finals performance exposed areas that need improvement.

And Angel Reese’s response focused on that shared experience rather than the criticism.