Angel Reese delivers another double-double as Atlanta Dream take 2–1 lead in WNBA Finals

ATLANTA – Angel Reese helped the Atlanta Dream win a WNBA Finals game for the first time Monday.

Two nights later, she helped them take their first lead in a Finals series.

ATLANTA DREAM, GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES SKIP NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WNBA FINALS GAME Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, taking a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Reese has totaled 51 points and 28 rebounds in Atlanta’s two victories.

Reese became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, joining A’ja Wilson as the only players to accomplish the feat.

And to give the Dream and their fans credit, I previously questioned whether Atlanta could fill State Farm Arena for the Finals.

They answered that with a resounding yes on Wednesday night.

Game 3 was a sellout, and the building was loud.

Before tip-off, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, marking their third straight absence in the series .

They returned moments after the performance ended.

The WNBA’s rulebook calls for players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up during the anthem, and the league has not answered OutKick’s questions about the absences.

Once the game started, Reese picked up where she left off in San Francisco.

She scored Atlanta’s first basket and finished the opening quarter with eight points, including a three-pointer that pushed the Dream’s lead to 22–12.

Golden State missed its first eight shots and didn’t make a field goal until 4:38 remained in the first quarter.