Angel Reese sends strong ‘championship culture’ message after Dream’s latest loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Dream are in unfamiliar territory. After climbing near the top of the WNBA standings earlier this season, Atlanta has suddenly dropped five consecutive games, with Saturday’s 88-83 loss to the Golden State Valkyries extending the team’s frustrating skid.
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Despite the recent struggles, Angel Reese isn’t losing confidence in what the Dream can accomplish this season. Following the loss, the two-time WNBA All-Star delivered a message centered on patience, resilience and what it takes to build a championship contender. Rather than dwelling on the losing streak, Reese made it clear she believes the adversity could ultimately strengthen Atlanta.
Angel Reese emphasizes ‘championship culture’
Speaking with reporters after the game, Reese acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the team’s recent play but stressed that difficult stretches are part of the process.
“Adversity builds character,” Reese said. “We’ll figure this out together.”
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She then expanded on why she believes the Dream’s current struggles don’t change the team’s long-term outlook.
“It’s not supposed to be easy. Championship culture is not supposed to be easy.”
Reese added that maintaining the belief there’s “a light at the end of the tunnel” has helped the team stay mentally focused despite the recent setbacks. She also credited rookie Aaliyah Nye for bringing valuable perspective. Nye was part of the Las Vegas Aces organization last season, when the team overcame an inconsistent stretch before ultimately winning the WNBA championship.
Reese identifies what Atlanta must improve
While Reese expressed confidence in the team’s future, she also didn’t hesitate to point out where the Dream have fallen short. Atlanta struggled offensively again against Golden State, shooting under 40 percent from the field while committing 17 turnovers. The Dream also left valuable points at the free-throw line in a five-point defeat.
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Reese called the performance unacceptable.
“No excuse. Absolutely no excuse,” she said.
She added that the solution may be as simple as spending extra time after practice working on free throws and shot-making.
“We just have to get back to the drawing board and figure out what works because we know how good we are when we are able to make those easy free throws, when we’re able to make our easy shots.”
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Dream searching for momentum
The current losing streak is a stark contrast to Atlanta’s start to the season. After defeating the Toronto Tempo on June 22, the Dream improved to 12-4, giving them the best record in the Eastern Conference and positioning themselves among the WNBA’s top championship contenders.
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Since then, however, Atlanta has struggled to rediscover that rhythm. Even during the skid, Reese has continued to produce. She recorded another double-double Saturday with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, though she fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
The Dream now have several days to regroup before hosting the Seattle Storm on Thursday. If Reese’s postgame comments are any indication, the confidence inside Atlanta’s locker room remains intact. The results haven’t followed recently, but Reese believes the difficult stretch could ultimately become part of building the championship culture the Dream hope will carry them later in the season.
