Angel Reese has a new nickname just in time for the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries to square off in the WNBA Finals.
Prior to being traded to the Dream last offseason, Reese said she was manifesting a Finals appearance for herself. Well, she accomplished that goal last week by helping the Dream take down the New York Liberty in the semifinals. She closed out the series with a team-high 22 points in Game 3.
“Just knowing I belong here,” Reese said after making the Finals. “Knowing, coming to Atlanta, how much I wanted to help this team and do whatever it takes. Not just to get out of the first round, not just to get out the semis, but to make it to the Finals and win a championship. And the job is not done. We’re definitely happy about where we are right now, but we’re not satisfied.”
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
With Game 1 of the WNBA Finals set for this Saturday, the Dream are receiving support from the Atlanta Hawks. In fact, veteran guard CJ McCollum referred to Reese as the “Queen of the South.”
“Obviously, the Atlanta team changed when the Queen of the South got here, so happy for her, happy to see them doing well, happy to see the team in the city kind of surrounding them,” McCollum said.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Reese thanked McCollum for her new nickname.
“Shoutout to CJ McCollum. It is really cool when you men’s team shows love to you,” Reese said. “I guess he’s saying that because I played at LSU. I appreciate the name. I guess that’s my new nickname – Queen of the South.”
Angel Reese is having herself a sharp posteason.
The Dream are 5-0 in this year’s playoffs in large part because of Reese. She’s averaging 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
If the Dream are going to take down the Valkyries, they’ll need Reese to keep on shining.
Game 1 of the Dream-Valkyries series will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
