Dream Coach Blasts Referees After Angel Reese Held to Seven Points

Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko criticized the officiating crew Monday night, arguing that officials missed excessive contact on star center Angel Reese during a 64-55 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The defeat in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals puts Atlanta in a 3-2 hole in the series.

Reese finished with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting and made three of four free throw attempts. Smesko acknowledged the Valkyries' defensive reputation but emphasized the disparity in calls against his player. "The contact on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous," he said. "You can't be at this level and make that many mistakes."

The coach also noted missed double-dribble and travel calls against Golden State. Reese echoed the frustration, citing a pattern of physical play and questionable officiating throughout her season. "I am still trying to figure out how to play through the physicality," Reese said. "I'm kind of used to it because this was happening throughout the season."

Reese recorded four personal fouls in Game 5, matching her total from Game 4. She marked the first time in her career that she has recorded two or fewer field goals in consecutive games across the regular season and postseason. In the previous game, she scored eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Atlanta attempted just 14 free throws on Monday, making 11. That marks the fewest free throw attempts by the Dream in a postseason game and ties for the second-fewest in any game this season. Prior to Game 5, the team had taken 116 free throws in the first four games, averaging 29 per contest. The Dream became the second team in WNBA history to attempt at least 25 free throws in three straight Finals games, achieving this in Games 2, 3, and 4.

Reese stated she perceived a shift in officiating after Atlanta took a 2-1 series lead. "It definitely shifted when we went up 2-1," she said. "I don't know what happened, but it definitely took a big turn."

Game 5 produced the lowest scoring totals in recent Finals history. The Valkyries' 64 points were the fewest in a Finals win since the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, while the Dream's 55 were the fewest in a Finals game since the Mercury in 2021. Atlanta shot 29.2% from the field and 23.5% in the paint, the worst mark for a team in a game this postseason. Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase described the intensity as expected for two defensive-minded teams. "Both teams really want to win this," she said. "They like physicality, so that's part of it."