David Gonzales-Imagn Images / Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) smiles during a break in the action against the Golden State Valkyries in the third quarter of game two of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center. In the other image, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark speaks with media members Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
While the WNBA may not have gotten the storyline that it hoped for in Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream vs. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Finals, it is adding another chapter to the pair’s rivalry.
Clark, dating back to their time in college at Iowa and LSU, respectively, has always garnered more individual accolades and put up more impressive individual numbers.
However, it was Reese and the Tigers who walked away with the 2023 national championship when the two met in the NCAA Tournament Finals. Though Clark and the Hawkeyes got some measure of the revenge in the Elite Eight the year following.
This time, however, Reese is not only having more team success in Atlanta. She’s also staking a claim for WNBA Finals MVP should the Dream go on to beat the Golden State Valkyries in their seven-game series.
Angel Reese becomes the youngest player to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in a WNBA postseason game. Reese joins Jonquel Jones, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson as the only players to achieve this milestone.
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) October 20, 2026
Angel Reese Dominates In Game 2 Of The WNBA Finals
After a difficult showing in a Game 1 loss to the Valkyries, Reese had perhaps the best game of her pro career in Game 2. The three-time WNBA All-Star shot 10-of-16 for 30 points and 16 rebounds in a 79-65 victory that handed Atlanta home-court advantage in the finals.
“I let my team down last game, not really contributing as much as I could in the second half,” Reese said after the game. “I just wanted to make sure I came out tonight and left my mark. And I think I did that.”
The reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year has been outstanding on both sides of the court during the playoffs. She’s averaging 19.1 points per game to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocks across seven playoff games.
“I was hungry,” she said her Game 2 showing. “I think we let one slip away [Saturday]. You can’t do that. We all came together and were pissed. We felt disappointed; we felt embarrassed. I walked off the court not feeling like myself, and I wanted to make sure that this game, I did everything I could do to walk off the court and feel like who I am.”
Clark is undeniably the bigger star. And, to this point, she’s put up the more impressive individual stats. But it appears, yet again, that Reese has the upper hand when it comes to winning games and performing in the biggest moments.