Angel Reese put the Dream on her back. Thirty points and 16 rebounds in Game 2 against the Valkyries, and Atlanta's defense suffocated Golden State in the second half to steal a 79-65 win. The Finals are tied at one apiece now.
Allisha Gray chipped in 18 points as the Dream locked down on both ends of the floor after halftime. Golden State couldn't find answers. The Valkyries came into Monday night having won Game 1, but Atlanta flipped the script completely. This is the franchise's first Finals victory.
Reese did the work nobody else can do. That rebounding number, that scoring load, that's championship-level production. The Dream needed someone to take over, and she did. Gray's scoring means Golden State can't just game-plan around one player, which keeps Atlanta's offense flowing.
The second half is what matters here. Teams don't win Finals games by accident. Atlanta's defense forced Golden State into a corner in the back half, and the Valkyries never escaped. That's the kind of adjustments that decide series.
The Dream go home for Game 3 with momentum and a split. Reese proved she belongs in this conversation.