Atlanta forward Angel Reese was fired up during the Dream's 97-71 win over the Valkyries to take a 2-1 series lead in Wednesday's Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
Reese started to trash talk early when she drove to the basket on Valkyries center Aminata Gueye and made the bucket while being fouled in the first quarter at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
"She can't f–k with me," Reese appeared to say as her shot gave the Dream a 8-1 lead.
She was chirping in front of the Golden State bench as she made her way to the free throw line.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter and USA Network cameras captured Reese seemingly taunting Gueye from the Dream bench with roughly 30 seconds left as Atlanta held a large lead.
Dream center Madina Okot hit a contested jumper over Gueye to give Atlanta a 94-69 advantage, and Reese appeared to have some words for Gueye.
"You're a bum," Reese appeared to say before she made a hand gesture that Gueye was small.
The two exchanged some expletives during Game 2 in Ballhalla , which set a precedent that trash talk would be heightened during the series.
Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 12 rebounds. She also had three steals.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) moves the ball while defended by Golden State Valkyries center Aminata Gueye (31) during the first half of the WNBA Finals Game 3, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates after scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
The three-time All-Star is the first player in league history with a double-double in her first three WNBA Finals games.
Game 4 of the Finals is set for Saturday in Atlanta.
Both teams are playing for their first WNBA title, with the Valkyries competing for a championship in their second season after becoming the league's 13th expansion team in May 2025.
