Angel Reese and Karl Smesko Cite Missed Calls After Valkyries Win Game 5

The WNBA Finals have reached a decisive point, with the Golden State Valkyries holding a three games to two lead over the Atlanta Dream following Monday night's contest in San Francisco.

Golden State defeated Atlanta 64-55 in Game 5, a result that leaves the Dream with a single game remaining to force a Game 7. The loss marked the lowest point for both teams in recent Finals history, as the combined offensive output was the smallest in a decisive Finals game in over two decades.

The series has seen a shift in momentum that dates back to Game 4, when Angel Reese struggled to find rhythm against Golden State's defensive pressure. In that previous contest, Reese scored eight points on two of twelve field goal attempts. Monday night’s performance extended that slump, as she managed only seven points on two of eight shots. This marks the first time in Reese's career that she has recorded two or fewer field goals in consecutive games, a statistic that spans both regular season and postseason play.

Head coach Karl Smesko argued that the officiating contributed to the team's offensive struggles. He stood by Reese in the postgame press conference, criticizing the referees for missing a volume of contact that he described as ridiculous. Smesko noted that the physicality applied to Reese was distinct from the contact other players received, suggesting that the officials failed to maintain consistent standards at this level of competition.

Reese echoed her coach's sentiments, stating that the physical defense has been a recurring theme throughout her season. She explained that while she has adapted to the physicality, it remains frustrating to watch teammates get knocked off their feet. Reese also pointed to specific matchups where she felt the rules were applied inconsistently, such as when she was called for an offensive foul after turning against a smaller opponent.

The Dream's shooting numbers reflect the difficulty of the night. Atlanta shot 29.2 percent from the field, the fourth-lowest mark by any team in a WNBA Finals game. Their performance in the paint was particularly poor, as they converted just 23.5 percent of their attempts inside the arc, the worst such mark in the current postseason. The team also took fewer free throws than in any other playoff game this year, managing just 11 of 14 attempts from the line.

Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase viewed the physical nature of the series as an expected element of two defensive-minded teams competing for a championship. She stated that both rosters are coached to embrace intensity and that the level of contact is part of the competitive balance between the two clubs.

The series now moves to the final game, where Atlanta must win to avoid elimination. The Dream will look to correct their shooting inefficiencies and manage the physical defense that has defined the latter part of the series. Golden State enters the final game with the opportunity to secure the title, having limited Atlanta to its fewest points in a Finals contest since 2021.