Angel Reese's Dominance Fuels Dream's WNBA Finals Chances in Game 3

The WNBA Finals series between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries shifts to Atlanta for Game 3, with the series tied 1-1. The Dream are considered 3.5-point favorites for the upcoming matchup, and the over/under for total points has been set at 151.5.

The league accommodated Atlanta's request to play Game 3 at State Farm Arena by moving the game up one day, ensuring a robust home crowd for the Dream's first Finals appearance in Atlanta since 2013. However, this schedule change provides one less day of rest for both teams following a cross-country flight from San Francisco.

Angel Reese has emerged as a central figure for the Dream's championship aspirations. While recognized for her Defensive Player of the Year performance during the season, Reese's offensive impact was particularly notable in Game 2. She recorded 30 points and 16 rebounds, becoming only the third player in WNBA Finals history to achieve a 30-point, 10-rebound game. Her aggressive play in the paint generated 18 points, and she capitalized on the Valkyries' 18 turnovers for 12 points.

Reese has demonstrated an ability to exploit defensive mismatches, particularly against defenders other than Golden State's Kiah Stokes. Statistics indicate she is shooting 13-of-18 against all defenders except Stokes in the series, compared to 2-of-9 against Stokes. The betting market has set her points total at 15.5 for Game 3.

While another historic scoring performance may not be expected, Reese has exceeded 15.5 points in four of her seven playoff games. Two of her playoff games where she scored below this total were decisive wins for the Dream. The prediction favors Reese to go over 15.5 points in Game 3.