“It is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back. I always say, ‘delayed, not denied.'” Those were the exact words Angel Reese said after the Atlanta Dream suffered a heartbreaking 68-63 loss against the Golden State Valkyries in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals.

Despite falling short of winning the championship, Reese made it clear that she remains motivated to bounce back next season. Moreover, after the game, the Dream star also opened up about her teammates and how they have helped her grow.

Angel Reese’s Recent Comment Regarding Her Teammates

During the postgame press conference, Reese expressed her gratitude toward her teammates for pushing her to become a better player and person.

She acknowledged that being a young and outspoken athlete comes with challenges, but the support she received inside the Dream locker room helped her mature throughout the season.

“They push me to be better. And I’m a young player, and I’m very vocal, but I think they really helped me a lot to mature. In different ways, I haven’t really been challenged, and they really challenged me to be better every single day. And I am just really grateful for that. There’s no egos in the locker room.”

“Nobody is selfish, and everybody just wants to see each other succeed. We have a team like that. I have been a part of some teams, and I know what it takes to win a championship. That’s the winning mindset. Just because we didn’t win today doesn’t mean that we won’t be champions in the future,” Reese said during the interview.

However, while Reese had positive things to say about her teammates, she struggled to make a significant impact in the championship-deciding game.

The Dream star finished with just 8 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in 33 minutes. She shot 3-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-3 from the 3-point range and converted just 1-of-3 free-throw attempts. Reese also committed 4 turnovers during the game.

Atlanta started slowly and trailed by 2 points after the first quarter. Then they found their rhythm in the second quarter and went into halftime up by 6 points. Atlanta briefly extended its lead to a game-high nine points in the third quarter, but Golden State rallied to take a 45-44 advantage into the fourth.

Meanwhile, Reese received support from her teammates throughout the contest. Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, while Allisha Gray contributed 16. Isobel Borlase added 8 points off the bench, while Rhyne Howard finished with 6 points. DeWanna Bonner scored 4 points, and Naz Hillmon contributed 3 points.

Now, Atlanta will have to wait another year for an opportunity to compete for the championship. After reaching the Finals this season, the Dream will look to address their shortcomings and return stronger in 2027.