Angel Reese faces Sophie Cunningham's blunt criticism after WNBA Finals collapse against Golden State Valkyries

Angel Reese’s strong start to the WNBA Finals could not carry the Atlanta Dream to the title, and Sophie Cunningham believes one part of her game made the difference. On the No Hesitation podcast, Cunningham and trainer Drew Hanlen pointed to Reese’s missed layups and her need to finish easy chances. Reese scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Game 2, then added 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3. But after Atlanta moved ahead 2-1, Golden State won three of the next four games to claim the championship in seven games overall.Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen Explain Where Angel Reese Needs to ImproveReese looked difficult to stop in the middle of the series. Her 30-point, 16-rebound performance in Game 2 made her the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to reach those numbers in a game. She followed it with another double-double in Game 3, helping Atlanta take control of the series.However, her scoring dropped as the Finals continued. During the latest episode of the No Hesitation podcast, Cunningham and Hanlen discussed why Reese struggled to maintain that form.Cunningham agreed with Hanlen’s view that Reese looked like an MVP when she was finishing her chances near the basket.“She was killing it, and she was literally looking like the MVP because of the consistency of her making her layups,” Cunningham said.She also pointed out that Reese gets plenty of chances close to the basket because of her height and strength. The problem, according to Cunningham, is turning those chances into points regularly.Hanlen added another concern. He said Reese sometimes spends too much time reacting to referees after missing a layup instead of getting back to defend. He also mentioned her technical fouls during the season.Hanlen believes improving her finishing should be a major part of Reese’s work during the offseason.“I know I’m working hard on my three. I know I’m working hard to improve my free throw, but it comes down to layups because I get them. I just got to make them. They’re right there,” Hanlen said.Reese's numbers in the final games explain why the discussion has started. She scored eight points in Game 4 and seven in Game 5, shooting just 4-of-20 combined from the field. She did better in Game 6 with 15 points and 13 rebounds. However, she finished Game 7 with eight points and 12 rebounds as Golden State won 68-63.Dave Portnoy also criticized Reese on the Wake Up Barstool podcast. He questioned her behavior after Game 3 and was particularly harsh about her performances in Atlanta's losses. However, his claim that she did not show up in the final three defeats overlooks her 15-point performance in Game 6.Angel Reese Remains Positive About Atlanta Dream’s Future After Finals LossDespite losing the championship after leading the series 2-1, Reese has not lost faith in her team. She also made it clear that reaching the Finals was something she and her teammates could be proud of.“Just because we didn’t win today doesn’t mean that we won’t be champions in the future,” Reese said.She also thanked her teammates for their support throughout the season.“I’m really proud of the year that I had. I’ve done a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without this group. I love these girls.”Reese finished the regular season averaging 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. She also led the league in rebounds.The Finals loss will hurt, especially after Atlanta came so close to winning its first championship. But Reese has shown that she can take control of games when her shots are falling. Her next challenge is to become more consistent around the basket and make those chances count when the pressure is highest.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.