Dream Star Angel Reese and Coach Karl Smesko Criticize Officiating After Game 5 Loss to Valkyries

The Atlanta Dream were once in position to take a 3-1 lead at home in the 2026 WNBA Finals. After a 64-55 loss to the Valkyries in Game 5 on Monday, they now trail the series 3-2 and face elimination. Following one of the weakest offensive showings in Finals history, forward Angel Reese and coach Karl Smesko directed their frustration at the officials.

Reese said she is still working out how to play through the physicality. "A lot of us are getting fouled and they're not calling it, or we're talking to the ref after and they're saying, 'Oh, we'll get you next time,'" she said. She added that she is used to it because it happened throughout the season, and that she has to keep playing through it.

Reese was dominant earlier in the series. In Games 2 and 3 she became the third player ever to post a 30-point, 15-rebound game in the Finals, and she joined A'ja Wilson as the only players with back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound Finals games. Her output has since dried up. She scored eight points on 2-of-12 shooting in Game 4 and seven points on 2-of-8 in Game 5.

It was the first time in her career that Reese made two or fewer shots in consecutive games. It was also the first time she has been held to single digits in back-to-back games since early in her rookie season. She has also had trouble reaching the free throw line, averaging 7.6 attempts over the first three games but taking only 10 across the last two. Her four attempts in Game 5 were her fewest of the postseason.

Reese said she "definitely" noticed more physical play from the Valkyries beginning in Game 4. She described a possession in which Gabby Williams pulled her on purpose while Williams' teammates shouted "foul" and no call came. She also said she is being called for offensive fouls when she turns on the post against weaker defenders, even though she is pushed first. "It definitely shifted when we went up 2-1," she said.

Points have been scarce for both teams all series, but Atlanta struggled especially in Game 5. The Dream shot 29.2% from the field, the fourth-worst team mark in a WNBA Finals game, and their 55 points tied for the 10th-fewest ever in a Finals contest. They also could not make up for the poor shooting at the free throw line.

Smesko credited Seattle's defense but said he wanted to back his player. "The contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous. Just ridiculous," he said, adding that the Dream should have gone to the line six to eight more times because of it.

The numbers show a more complicated picture. According to ESPN, in Games 2 through 4 the Dream became just the second team to attempt at least 25 free throws in three straight Finals games. For the series, Atlanta has outscored the Valkyries by 42 points at the line.

Smesko still objected to the officiating in recent games. He pointed to missed double-dribbles and travels that led to points and said, "You can't be at this level and make this many mistakes." He acknowledged that the Dream are missing shots they should make, but said a push with two hands on a driver "has to be a foul." He added: "I'm kinda tired of some of the excuses that I'm hearing."