USA Sports announced Saturday that Game 6 of the WNBA Finals averaged 1.5 million viewers on Thursday afternoon. I'll admit, that number raised my eyebrows.
A game that tipped off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, or 9:30 a.m. in the morning in the Golden State Valkyries' home market, outdrew last year's championship clincher in primetime?
USA Sports says it did, by 4%. The release combines viewers across USA Network, E! and SYFY with streaming led by Peacock, but doesn't break out how much of the audience came from television or streaming.
USA Sports and NBC Sports have been promoting record audiences throughout the Finals, with WNBA PR also distributing their releases through an NBA employee.
NBC called its 2.1 million audience for Game 1 the largest ever for a Finals opener. USA Sports touted Game 3's 1.71 million as the biggest Game 3 audience since 1999 and the highest ever on cable. Those figures, like the Game 6 announcement, combined television and streaming.
NBC's television audience didn't top the old ESPN record
NBC called Game 4 between the Valkyries and Atlanta Dream the most-watched Game 4 in WNBA Finals history, reporting 1.9 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. The release touted a 14% increase over the previous record of 1.67 million for the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx on ESPN in 2024.
Keep in mind, ESPN requires paid access. NBC is available free over the air, and this year's game also had Peacock.
According to Sports Media Watch, NBC's television audience was 1.66 million, slightly below the previous reported ESPN record. Another 232,000 came from streaming measured separately by Adobe Analytics. That addition put NBC's combined figure over the old mark, but NBC didn't include the breakdown in its release.
I wrote about this measurement issue in July, when CBS and NBC both claimed the season's biggest WNBA audience.
Even the Nielsen numbers come from different measurement systems. Nielsen made Big Data + Panel its standard in 2025, combining its household panel with information from smart TVs and set-top boxes across 45 million households. The 2024 ESPN figure predates that standard.
Nielsen also expanded its out-of-home measurement in 2025, increasing coverage from 66% to 100% of the contiguous U.S. television population, and it includes viewing in places such as bars and restaurants. Then, on Aug. 31 of this year, it introduced changes intended to better capture how many people watch together, using wearable devices that pick up television audio.
Nielsen says its changes are intended to improve accuracy and don't guarantee higher ratings. But if better measurement captures someone who was already watching the WNBA, that person isn't a new fan.
Game 5's headline left out the size of the gap
USA Sports promoted Monday's 1.4 million viewers across USA Network, CNBC and Peacock as the second-most-watched Finals Game 5 ever. Its release acknowledged that the 2024 Liberty-Lynx clincher held the record. What it didn't include was that game's audience: 2.15 million on ESPN, putting this year's reported total about 35% below it.
The 2024 Finals were a best-of-five series, making Game 5 a winner-take-all matchup for the championship. The WNBA expanded to best-of-seven in 2025, and this year's Game 5 began with the series tied 2-2, so neither team could clinch the title. Monday's game also faced Cowboys-Eagles on "Monday Night Football," which drew 18.8 million viewers, plus the World Series at 8.3 million and NBA regular-season games.
The release did, however, highlight an 8% increase over Game 2. It also described Game 5 as the "third consecutive game that USA Sports has posted record viewership."
Who's checking the streaming numbers?
The releases cite Adobe Analytics for their streaming audiences, but they don't identify who independently verified those figures or provide the data behind them.
Adobe's documentation describes an average-minute audience calculation based on time spent watching divided by the content's duration or a selected reporting period. Its software lets customers choose reporting windows and, for certain calculations, whether viewing time includes commercials.
NBC's release doesn't specify those settings or explain how the streaming calculation was matched to its television measurement.
Michael Mulvihill, Fox's president of insights and analytics, posted on X that Nielsen had told clients: "Mixing internal or third-party data with Nielsen metrics to make comparative statements in the press is not permissible." He added, "Hopefully this clear, fair policy will be rigorously enforced during football season."
NBC's own Sept. 14 release for the NFL season opener attributed its combined NBC and Peacock audience to "Nielsen Big Data inclusive of first party data." Its WNBA releases still combine Nielsen and Adobe figures. NBC should explain what independent verification applies to the WNBA streaming numbers and how its record claims fit Nielsen's policy.
For Game 6, USA Sports cited Nielsen's "panel-only" data alongside Adobe Analytics. Its releases for Games 2, 3 and 5 used Nielsen's Big Data + Panel figures, plus Adobe.
Nielsen says Big Data + Panel figures generally take two to three days to arrive, and its press policy allows preliminary reporting for single-day events. So, the panel-only figure could be an early estimate while USA Sports waits for the final number. The Game 6 release doesn't say that, though. And it doesn't label the figure preliminary or explain the switch.
Game 6 was moved from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. so it could be played at State Farm Arena, with the Hawks playing there that night. In announcing the move, the WNBA and NBA said they would join the broadcasters in a coordinated promotional push to get viewers to the new time slot. The move also took the game out of direct competition with "Thursday Night Football."
USA Sports has enough confidence in the figure to rank Game 6 as the fifth-most-watched WNBA Finals game on cable. Then it should be able to tell us whether the number is final and how much of it actually came from cable.
Angel Reese has taken a crafty, scrappy and mouthy road to her first ever Game 7 in WNBA history.
She has already made her presence heard in the series, taunting Golden State with a "too small" gesture. But Reese’s history of making statements stretches back well before her first Finals appearance.
From her championship-game taunts directed at Caitlin Clark in college to public criticism of her own team in Chicago, Reese has repeatedly made headlines with her words and gestures. Those moments have sparked debates over sportsmanship, player treatment and the scrutiny that comes with stardom.
Reese has, at times, explicitly embraced the attention.
"I’ll take the bad guy role," she said in June 2024, while arguing that she also deserved credit for women’s basketball’s growing popularity.
As she prepares for Saturday’s championship showdown, here is a look back at the trash talk, pointed comments and public clashes that have accompanied her rise.
After her LSU Tigers knocked off Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes, Reese made a gesture that changed the sport forever.
As LSU closed out its 102-85 national championship victory over Iowa, Reese waved her hand in front of her face in Clark’s direction, then pointed toward her ring finger. The "you can’t see me" gesture, popularized by wrestler John Cena, was one Clark had used during Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville.
The celebration became a debate of its own. Critics accused Reese of poor sportsmanship, while defenders questioned why her gesture drew backlash when Clark’s had been celebrated. Reese, named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, stood by it.
"I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in," Reese told reporters afterward. "But when other people do it, y’all say nothing."
Clark herself declined to join the criticism.
"I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all," she told ESPN two days later, defending trash talk as part of competition.
April 3–7, 2023 — ‘We’ll go to the Obamas’
Reese’s next public clash reached the White House.
A day after LSU won the national championship, then-first lady Jill Biden suggested that runner-up Iowa should also visit the White House, an honor traditionally reserved for the champions.
Reese’s response was short: "A JOKE." She posted it on Twitter with three laughing emojis.
Biden’s office subsequently clarified that her suggestion was meant to celebrate the historic game and women athletes, and that she looked forward to hosting LSU. Reese remained unimpressed, referring to that response as an apology during an appearance on the "Paper Route" podcast.
"I don’t accept the apology," Reese said.
She argued that LSU would not have received an invitation had it lost, then offered an alternative destination.
"They can have that spotlight. We’ll go to the Obamas. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack."
President Joe Biden ultimately invited LSU and men’s champion Connecticut, without including Iowa. By April 7, Reese said she would attend with her teammates, explaining that she wanted to do what was best for the team.
The episode ended with a warmer exchange: Reese attended the May 26 celebration, hugged Jill Biden and presented her with a jersey.
March 10, 2024 — ‘Not scared of South Carolina’
Reese left her final SEC championship game with a loss and a message for the winners.
LSU, the defending national champion, had been trying to hand undefeated South Carolina its first loss of the season. The Gamecocks held on for a 79-72 victory in Greenville, South Carolina, after a physical game that boiled over into a late confrontation.
Reese and South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso had spent much of the afternoon battling inside. During the second quarter, Reese pulled Cardoso’s hair as she headed upcourt. On another possession, Cardoso pushed Reese in the back, and Reese responded with an elbow to Cardoso’s face that drew an intentional foul.
The scuffle near the end of the game began with other players.
With South Carolina ahead 73-66 and 2:08 remaining, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson committed an intentional foul on MiLaysia Fulwiley after a turnover. Johnson then bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins while heading toward her bench. Cardoso rushed in and shoved Johnson to the floor.
Cardoso was ejected for fighting, and five other players were ejected for leaving their benches.
Reese walked away from the confrontation and was not ejected. But her postgame comments threw a jab in a different way.
"We’re not scared of South Carolina," she told reporters, repeating the declaration before offering a warning to LSU’s upcoming NCAA Tournament opponents.
"Anybody seeing us moving forward should be scared."
May 23–25, 2024 — ‘One player’ and a deleted post
Reese was three games into her WNBA career when she weighed in on who deserved credit for the league’s growing spotlight.
After Chicago’s 90-81 victory over the New York Liberty, she celebrated the win with a pointed post on X.
"and that’s on getting a WIN in a packed area not just cause of one player on our charter flight," Reese wrote, adding a kissing emoji. She subsequently deleted the post.
The comment followed Charles Barkley’s criticism of WNBA players he accused of being petty toward Clark. Barkley said they should thank the Indiana Fever rookie for the attention and money she was bringing to the league, including its newly introduced charter flights.
The WNBA had announced its full charter program earlier that month, citing years of work to strengthen its business.
Although many interpreted Reese’s post as a swipe at Clark, Reese later told the Chicago Sun-Times that Barkley was her target.
"He knows it was directed towards him and whoever is not actually educated on what’s going on in the league," she said.
Reese argued that numerous players, including herself, had contributed to the WNBA’s growth.
June 1–3, 2024 — ‘It’s because of me, too’
Reese’s first WNBA meeting with Clark brought a controversial foul, a fine and another declaration about her place in the spotlight.
During Indiana’s 71-70 victory over Chicago, Sky guard Chennedy Carter knocked Clark to the floor with an away-from-the-ball shoulder check. The WNBA subsequently upgraded the foul to a flagrant 1.
Broadcast footage showed Reese standing and clapping from Chicago’s bench after the contact, drawing further scrutiny. The league also fined Reese $1,000 for failing to make herself available for postgame interviews.
She pointed back to LSU’s 2023 championship game against Iowa and the attention that had followed, arguing that the sport’s growth extended beyond one player.
"It’s because of me, too, and I want y’all to realize that," Reese said.
June 16, 2024 — ‘A special whistle’
Reese’s next complaint came after her own foul on Clark went to review.
During the third quarter of Indiana’s 91-83 victory over Chicago, Reese attempted to block a Clark layup and struck her across the head, sending her to the floor. Officials initially called a common foul, then upgraded it to a flagrant 1 after reviewing the play.
Reese defended her attempt to contest the shot.
"It was a basketball play. I can’t control the refs," she said afterward.
She also argued that Chicago had not received enough calls when attacking the basket, saying a review of the film showed missed fouls.
"I guess some people got a special whistle," Reese said, without naming a player.
Reese and fellow Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso each finished with five fouls. Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon also expressed frustration with calls she believed her post players should have received.
Clark offered a more restrained assessment of the contact.
"It’s just part of basketball," she said, adding that Reese "was trying to make a play on the ball."
Oct. 3, 2024 — ‘Why don’t y’all box me out?’
Reese turned criticism of her rebounding into a challenge for her opponents.
During an episode of "Unapologetically Angel" featuring Dwyane Wade, she defended the skill that had become her calling card during her rookie season.
"Why don’t y’all box me out? How come y’all don’t box me out?" Reese asked.
Her rebounding had become a recurring point of debate, with critics highlighting possessions in which she collected her own missed shots. Reese argued that her success on the glass was being turned into a reason to criticize her.
She finished the season leading the WNBA with 13.1 rebounds per game, including a league-best 5.1 offensive rebounds. She also shot 39.1% from the field.
Reese acknowledged during the conversation that her offense needed work and said improving it would be an offseason priority. Her message about rebounding was more defiant: opponents had their chance to stop her.
Jan. 31, 2025 — ‘Sabrina can’t f---ing guard’
Reese took her trash talk to the Unrivaled League — and a television microphone picked it up.
During a timeout in the first season of Unrivaled, the offseason 3-on-3 league, Reese delivered a blunt assessment of New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu’s defense.
"Sabrina can’t f---ing guard!" Reese said while her Rose BC coach, Nola Henry, was wearing a microphone. Ionescu was playing for the opposing Phantom BC.
Phantom won 75-63 behind Ionescu’s 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. She also blocked a Reese layup in the fourth quarter. Reese finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Asked about the remark during a Ringer NBA Show interview released Feb. 18, Ionescu defended trash talk as an ordinary part of basketball. She also had a reminder about the result.
"I don’t pay too much mind to that one because we won and I had 32 points," Ionescu said.
Feb. 1, 2025 — Unrivaled’s first ejection
Reese’s next Unrivaled milestone came with an early exit.
During Rose BC’s game against Laces BC, Reese received two technical fouls late in the second quarter after being called for a foul while guarding Tiffany Hayes.
Reese waved her hand after the call, drawing the first technical. She appeared to argue that her gesture was directed at Hayes rather than the referee, but received a second technical and was ejected — a first for the new league.
"While I understood her frustration completely, she’ll grow from that in terms of keeping her composure," Rose coach Nola Henry said.
Reese finished with six points and 15 rebounds, and Rose won 83-69.
Her response continued on X.
"Happy BHM. yall know i had to be the first," Reese posted, referring to Black History Month.
She also called Sports Illustrated’s coverage of the ejection "clickbait," adding, "everything i do keep going viral."
Feb. 21, 2025 — ‘Hootie Hoo’
Reese borrowed the Lunar Owls’ celebration after helping spoil their perfect start in Unrivaled.
She delivered 22 points and 21 rebounds — the league’s first 20-point, 20-rebound performance — as Rose BC beat the previously unbeaten Owls 72-63 on Feb. 21. The Owls entered the game 8-0.
As Reese left the court, she flapped her arms and shouted "Hootie Hoo," mimicking her opponents’ signature chant.
May 17, 2025 — Another Clark clash
Reese’s second WNBA season opened with another confrontation with Clark.
With 4:38 left in the third quarter of Chicago’s opener against Indiana, Clark committed a hard foul after Reese grabbed an offensive rebound, knocking Reese to the floor. Reese jumped up and moved toward Clark before Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped between them.
Officials upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1 after reviewing the play and assessed offsetting technical fouls to Reese and Boston.
Crew chief Roy Gulbeyan explained afterward that Clark’s foul involved unnecessary contact. He described Reese’s penalty as a "verbal technical" and Boston’s as a "physical taunt technical."
Reese kept her postgame assessment brief.
"Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on," she said.
Clark said during an in-game interview that there was "nothing malicious" about the foul.
Indiana won 93-58. Clark finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Reese recorded 12 points and 17 rebounds.
July 6, 2025 — Risking a ‘cheap’ fine
Reese decided the risk of a fine was worth airing her complaints about WNBA officiating.
After Chicago’s 80-75 loss to Minnesota, she said she had questioned an official about the Sky’s lack of free throws entering the fourth quarter. According to Reese, the official responded that it was "not her job."
Chicago finished with eight free-throw attempts to Minnesota’s 17. Four of the Lynx’s attempts came after Chicago fouled in the final 15 seconds.
Reese called for the officiating to improve and dismissed the potential financial penalty as cheap.
"I don’t give a damn if I get fined," she said. "I am tired of this s---."
She carried that frustration onto X, describing a photo showing contact around her waist during a rebound as "diabolical."
In another post, she shared her press conference comments and tagged the WNBA with a message: "idgaf. DO BETTER."
July 10, 2025 — Taking on RG3
Reese appeared to push back against former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III’s claimed inside scoop on her relationship with Clark.
In a July 10 post condemning a racist image of Reese, Griffin also claimed people in her circle had contacted him and claimed she had grown to hate Clark.
Hours later, Reese posted a pointed response without naming Griffin.
"lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work," she wrote.
Reese’s assessment of Chicago’s roster brought consequences from her own organization.
In a Chicago Tribune interview published Sept. 3, Reese called for roster upgrades and raised the possibility of eventually leaving if the Sky didn’t improve.
"I’m not settling for the same s--- we did this year," she said.
She specifically questioned relying on point guard Courtney Vandersloot, then 36 and recovering from a season-ending ACL injury.
"We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at," Reese said. She also said Vandersloot could remain an asset, while advocating for a younger, experienced guard.
In a televised interview, Vandersloot said: "My age is absolutely not a factor. I am coming back."
Rachel Banham told the Sun-Times she felt "blindsided" by Reese’s comments. Players held a meeting after their Sept. 3 game, and Reese apologized.
"I didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates," Reese said, arguing that her language had been taken out of context.
On Sept. 5, the Sky announced Reese was suspended for the first-half of a Sept. 7 game against Las Vegas, citing "statements detrimental to the team."
Reese ultimately missed the second half, too, with a back injury.
It marked the beginning of the end of Reese in Chicago, as she was traded to the Atlanta Dream ahead of the 2026 season, in April.
Eleven days after Chicago traded her to Atlanta for two first-round draft picks, Reese used her introductory news conference to explain what she wanted from her new basketball home.
"I enjoyed being able to grow within my first two years, but I wanted more. I love to win, I love to compete and I wanted to be surrounded by people that can make me better," she said. "I don’t care about anything else that comes with it. I want to win and being able to come to an organization that really cared about their players."
June 14, 2026 — Trading words with Isabelle Harrison
Reese’s back-and-forth with a former teammate ended with that teammate getting tossed.
Reese and Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison, who played together in Chicago during Reese’s 2024 rookie season, had been jawing throughout their matchup in Toronto. Their encounter escalated in the third quarter.
With 6:05 remaining in the period, Harrison pulled Reese to the floor as the Atlanta forward worked inside. Players from both teams converged, and Reese’s teammates pulled her away. Officials initially called a common foul, then upgraded it to a flagrant 2 after reviewing the play, ejecting Harrison. No additional penalties were assessed during the confrontation.
Harrison had scored 17 points before her early exit. Reese remained in the game and finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds, including a career-high 11 offensive boards, as Atlanta won 102-77.
July 2, 2026 — ‘Disrespectful’ All-Star results
Reese took aim at All-Star voting after Atlanta failed to land a single starter.
Speaking before the Dream’s July 2 game against Washington, Reese called the results "disrespectful," particularly toward teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. She credited the guards with driving Atlanta’s success and said she would speak up for them.
"For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face, but they’re not going to say anything. I am."
Reese also congratulated the selected starters and said they deserved their spots. She expected Atlanta’s players to make the roster when reserves were announced.
The starting lineup came from a weighted vote: Fans accounted for 50%, with players and media contributing 25% each. Howard and Gray finished fifth and sixth among guards, with four starting spots available. Reese finished seventh among frontcourt players, one place outside the six-player cutoff.
Five days later, all three were announced as All-Star reserves, selected by the league’s head coaches.
Sept. 21, 2026 — Trading ‘too small’ taunts with Jonquel Jones
Reese gave Jonquel Jones the "too small" treatment. Jones returned the favor.
During Atlanta’s September matchup with New York, Reese backed down the Liberty center and scored a short shot in the second quarter. She followed the basket with the familiar gesture, pinching her fingers together to suggest Jones couldn’t handle her inside.
Jones answered in the third quarter. She backed Reese toward the basket, scored as Reese fell to the floor and delivered her own "too small" celebration.
Both finished with double-doubles: Reese had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jones recorded 18 points and 12 boards. Atlanta won 95-84, moving closer to securing home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Sept. 30, 2026 — Waving Washington out of the playoffs
Reese picked up a technical for taunting Washington, then waved the Mystics out of the playoffs.
With 4:08 remaining in Game 2 of their first-round series, Reese blocked Michaela Onyenwere’s layup and grabbed the rebound. She turned to exchange words with Onyenwere, who swatted the ball from her hand. Officials assessed Reese a technical foul for taunting.
After Atlanta completed its 93-75 victory and two-game sweep, Reese and teammate Allisha Gray raised their hands and waved goodbye toward Washington’s players.
Veteran teammate DeWanna Bonner stepped between them and pulled both players’ hands down.
Reese finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks as Atlanta advanced to the semifinals.
Speaking afterward, she praised Washington’s young roster and predicted future success for the Mystics. But she also offered her assessment of the series: "the best team came out on top."
Oct. 9, 2026 — Jawing with Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones
Reese had words for two Liberty stars as Atlanta closed out New York.
The first exchange followed a second-quarter basket by Dream rookie Isobel Borlase, who appeared to push off against Sabrina Ionescu without drawing an offensive foul. On the next possession, Ionescu pushed Borlase while setting a screen and was called for an offensive foul.
Reese ran over and repeatedly spoke to Ionescu. Rhyne Howard stepped between them and pushed Ionescu, while Reese continued talking before DeWanna Bonner led her away. Officials reviewed the confrontation and assessed no technical fouls, ruling that no hostile act had occurred.
Minutes later, Jonquel Jones blocked Reese’s shot and bumped her with her chest. The two stood chest-to-chest and exchanged words before teammates separated them. This time, both received technical fouls.
Reese finished with 22 points and nine rebounds in Atlanta’s 85-83 victory, completing a three-game sweep and sending the Dream to their first Finals since 2013.
Afterward, Reese described competing against respected peers as "literally war," adding that "the respect is given."
October 2026 — Finals taunts and a Game 7 showdown
Reese brought her "too small" taunt to the Finals, along with her running commentary.
During Game 2, Reese and Valkyries center Aminata Gueye exchanged words while Reese stood at the free-throw line following a foul by Gueye. Reese made both shots, then blocked Gueye’s layup on Golden State’s next possession. She finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds in Atlanta’s 79-65 victory, evening the series.
In Game 3, Reese pinched her fingers together toward Golden State players in the familiar taunting gesture. Photographers also captured her making it after the victory, with teammates laughing beside her.
Reese contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta won 97-71 and took a 2-1 series lead.
Speaking to reporters on Oct. 23, she explained her effort to unsettle Golden State.
"They’re playing into my mental game where I can take their confidence and just try to do whatever to mess them up," she said.
She also said Golden State’s home atmosphere at Chase Center, nicknamed Ballhalla, did not intimidate her and suggested Atlanta presented a tougher environment for visiting players.
The Valkyries responded. Kaila Charles emphasized the need to match Atlanta’s energy and answer its trash talk. During Game 4, broadcast cameras caught Charles pushing Reese’s arm as Atlanta gathered for a huddle. Reese pushed back, and the two exchanged words. Golden State won 67-62 to tie the series.
Golden State also won Game 5, putting Atlanta one loss from elimination. The Dream answered Thursday with an 80-69 Game 6 victory. Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21.
That sends the series back to Ballhalla for the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Tipoff is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center, with both franchises seeking their first championship.
Here's the bad news: The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday to force a Game 7.
The good news? Regardless of what happens on Saturday, there will be no more WNBA until next May. That's right. Our long, national nightmare of trans debates and Sophie Cunningham slander and national anthem nonsense will go into hibernation for seven glorious months.
And, frankly, we've earned it. It's exhausting. This whole season has been exhausting. It's also been the longest season in the history of sports. It just won't end!
Now, don't get me wrong — I enjoyed the content during the summer months. It kept the lights on around here when there was no football. We needed a spark, and Sophie Cunningham gave us one because she's a patriot.
Everyone else, though? I'm out on them. Thank goodness that league is on the doorstep of the offseason. It can't get here fast enough.
Before we go, though, I do have one final collection of Angel Reese highlights that are currently going mega-viral on social media in the wake of yesterday's win.
Reese ... did not have her best game:
Angel Reese has had a solid season, but Game 6 was a struggle
Thoughts? First impressions?
Look, it was a tough game for Angel Reese. No sugarcoating it. No hiding it. Just to show you how truly bad everyone else was, Reese somehow finished with a +/- of +10, which is stunning given she turned the ball over six times and made just 27% of her shots.
Feels like that shouldn't equate to positive play on the court, but what do I know?
Sometimes, you just have a tough day at the office. That's what Angel experienced yesterday afternoon in a potential close-out WNBA Finals game.
And yes — there was an actual WNBA Finals game played at noon yesterday. Amazing. That's another story in itself, and one I don't care much about.
What I do care about is Angel Reese. She was solid early on in these finals, but the last few games have been a struggle. Perhaps she's getting tired of having to field questions from OutKick's Dan Zaksheske every other night when the league actually grants us a question?
Will Angel rise to the moment? Will both teams disrespect our great national anthem for the 400th time? Will some gaslighting coach wear a "Trans Kids Lives Matters" shirt on the sideline? Better yet, will Angel wear another "Protect Black Women" shirt in 2026?
Most importantly, will anyone watch since it's at 8 p.m. on a college football Saturday night and it's also Halloween night?
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive Thursday. Perhaps more importantly, they spared the WNBA a title celebration in the middle of a workday.
The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 at State Farm Arena, evening the best-of-seven Finals at 3-3 and forcing a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Reese struggled to shoot the ball for a third consecutive game, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. She grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists but also committed six turnovers.
That made it three straight games with more turnovers than made field goals for the Dream star. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Reese shot 9-for-38 from the floor (24%) and turned the ball over 15 times.
This time, Atlanta had enough offense around her. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21, combining to make nine of their 13 three-point attempts.
Their shooting also ensured that the WNBA’s championship would be decided in prime time.
The league moved Game 6 from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to 12:30 p.m. Thursday to accommodate an arena doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State fans back home had to tune in at 9:30 a.m. to watch their team try to win its first title.
There had also been questions about where the Valkyries would celebrate if they won.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that a championship celebration could be moved to a practice court to accommodate preparations for the Hawks game. She later clarified that there was "a resolve" to make sure any championship won Thursday was celebrated on the court.
But that sounded an awful lot like damage control from the WNBA. Winning a championship and then moving the celebration to a practice court because the NBA needed the floor would have been a terrible look for the league.
Atlanta’s win made the issue moot.
The crowd deserved credit for showing up under the circumstances. State Farm Arena was largely filled for a Thursday afternoon, although there were more empty seats and the building was quieter at the start than it had been for Games 3 and 4.
Fans who spoke with OutKick outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and difficult travel times to attend. Tiffany Hayes’ father, Renard Hayes, blamed the league and Atlanta for the scheduling predicament.
Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, this time performed by rapper T.I.’s 10-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris. It was their sixth consecutive absence during the Finals.
Once the game began, Atlanta quickly took control.
The Dream made six of their eight first-quarter three-point attempts and built a 32-15 lead. Reese made only one of her four shots in the period, but contributed four assists, including passes that set up three of Atlanta’s threes.
Atlanta pushed its advantage to 25 points in the second quarter and took a 46-26 lead into halftime.
Golden State narrowed the deficit in the third, but Atlanta still led 63-47 entering the fourth.
Reese scored five points in the final period, making a driving layup and a three-pointer with Atlanta already leading by double digits. She finished 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.
The Valkyries eventually got within eight. Gabby Williams completed a three-point play with 1:15 remaining, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 77-69 and fouling Howard out of the game.
Gray answered on the next possession, making a three-pointer off a Reese assist with 56 seconds left. That restored Atlanta’s double-digit lead and provided the final points of the afternoon.
Gray finished 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. Howard made four of her six three-point attempts, while Atlanta went 13-for-30 as a team.
Williams led Golden State with 26 points but shot 8-for-22. The Valkyries made just 22 of their 70 field-goal attempts.
Kiah Stokes, whose defense had been a major factor throughout the series, went scoreless and failed to block a shot in 20 minutes. That ended her streak of six consecutive playoff games with at least three blocks.
Reese and the Dream head to San Francisco for Game 7, with both franchises one win from their first championship.
Heiress Harris, the 10-year-old daughter of rapper T.I., sang the national anthem before Thursday's Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. But, as has been the case all series, the players weren't on the court for the performance.
Both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor just before the young Black singer began "The Star-Spangled Banner," marking their sixth straight absence for the anthem in this series.
OutKick interviewed fans outside State Farm Arena prior to Game 6. They offered different views on the practice, with some wanting players on the floor and others defending their choice to leave.
One defender of the practice was the father of Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes.
"This is America, by the way, and I’ve served this country, so they can choose what they want," Renard Hayes told OutKick.
Asked whether, as a veteran, he had an issue with the absences, he said he did not.
"I don’t have an issue with it because it’s not a disrespect of the flag," he said.
Hayes’ father, who said he lives in Florida, had criticized the game’s 12:30 p.m. start, blaming the league and Atlanta organization for the scheduling situation. On the anthem, however, he defended the players’ freedom to decide.
The game was moved from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start to accommodate a doubleheader with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Golden State entered Thursday leading the best-of-seven series 3–2 after winning Monday’s Game 5, 64–55, with a chance to clinch its first championship.
Some fans want players on the court, while others defend their choice
One Dream fan told OutKick she believed everyone should stand for the national anthem.
A male Valkyries fan said he respected the players’ opinions and beliefs but wanted them on the floor.
"They’ve been doing it for years," another Dream fan said. "And that’s their choice. It is what it is."
A woman who said she represents Valkyries center Kiah Stokes offered a similar view.
"I think it’s their decision," the representative said.
For one man attending with a female Dream fan, the question was more complicated. Asked whether he considered the absences disrespectful, he said, "Me personally, maybe a little bit."
"But it doesn’t concern me that much either," he added. "Not particularly bothered by it."
Another Dream fan attending with his family said he respected the anthem and the players’ ability to decide whether to participate.
"But we live in a country where you have a choice, so I gotta respect it," he said.
Players and coaches say skipping anthem is a pregame routine
During media availability in Atlanta on Oct. 23, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase described the absences as part of the team’s pregame routine.
Those interviews were OutKick’s first opportunity to ask the anthem questions directly after attending all 13 formal press conferences during the first three games without being called on.
"We’re two years in," Nakase said. "That’s been part of our pregame."
Asked who established the routine and why, she said, "I really don’t know."
OutKick followed up: "What do you do during those 90 seconds that you’re off the court?"
"I’m with my staff, so I’m focused on my plays," Nakase said.
Golden State’s public relations staff then moved to the next reporter. OutKick did not get an opportunity to ask why those preparations needed to happen during the anthem rather than before or afterward.
Valkyries forward Gabby Williams denied that the team’s absence was a protest.
"No," she said.
Asked why the team was off the floor, Williams responded: "That’s been the routine for like, seven years now."
An Atlanta public relations representative moved to the next question after Dream coach Karl Smesko declined to explain his team’s absences.
"We’re just kind of focused on the Finals," Smesko said.
Asked whether he had any further comment about the anthem and his team’s absences, he said, "No."
Howard said she did not think she had been on the court for the anthem at any point during her tenure in Atlanta. She also defended her commitment to representing the United States internationally.
"When I go put on USA jersey I’m out for the national anthem every time, there’s no doubt about it," Howard said.
OutKick asked Howard why she was not on the court for the anthem with the Dream.
Howard and an Atlanta public relations representative both responded, "Next question."
The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook says players, coaches and trainers are to "stand and line up in a dignified posture" along the sidelines or on the foul line during the national anthem.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that the league suspended its anthem protocols in 2017. The provision remains in the 2026 rulebook.
OutKick has asked the WNBA to clarify its current requirements and enforcement, whether discipline is planned or under consideration, and whether teams have received instructions about being on the floor.
The inquiries to the WNBA and both teams began after Game 1 on Oct. 17, with follow-ups Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. OutKick also contacted the NBA league office on Oct. 20 about its role in the matter.
OutKick has also asked Atlanta to confirm an arena employee’s account that Dream players stand in a hallway after leaving the floor before games, including whether they remain there during the anthem.
During Game 4, I attempted to observe what Atlanta’s players do after leaving the court. Arena staff said my credential did not grant access to that area and escorted me to my assigned media seat.
The WNBA, NBA and both teams’ front offices have not responded to OutKick’s emailed requests for comment about the anthem absences. The player and coach responses came during media availability.
Six games into the Finals, fans disagree about whether the players should be on the court for the anthem. The teams still haven’t explained why their preparations require leaving it.
The father of Golden State Valkyries star Tiffany Hayes wasn't shy about blaming the WNBA for playing a potential championship-clinching game at 12:30 p.m. on a Thursday.
"I think it’s the league’s fault," Renard Hayes told OutKick outside State Farm Arena before Game 6 between his daughter’s Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.
"It’s the league’s fault. And pretty much the Atlanta organization."
He wasn’t alone in questioning the arrangement. Fans outside the arena described taking time off work, pulling children out of school and traveling hours to attend a game originally scheduled for 8 p.m.
The WNBA moved Game 6 to the afternoon to accommodate a doubleheader at State Farm Arena, where the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks were scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers that night. Golden State entered Thursday with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to win its first championship.
Hayes, who said he lives in Florida, could make the early start work, but he expressed concern for the people who couldn’t.
"It’s kind of a shame about how they couldn’t handle the situation better or couldn’t be more prepared," he said.
For Golden State fans watching in California, the game’s start time was 9:30 a.m.
"Probably have to take a break off work, take the day off or whatever like that," Hayes said. "But for me, I’m good with it. I’m okay with it."
He pointed to Golden State’s experience relocating a playoff game to San Jose last season as an example of having an alternative ready. He also questioned whether the Dream’s roughly 3,500-seat regular home, Gateway Center Arena, could have accommodated the demand for a Finals game.
Moving to State Farm Arena created room for more fans, but moving the start time created another obstacle to getting them there.
"We came from four hours away, so we’re not too thrilled. But we’re here," one Dream fan told OutKick, adding that the child accompanying her was out of school for the game.
Another Atlanta fan said she had been able to get off work, but recognized that others wouldn’t have that flexibility.
"For all of the other Dream fans, it’s not ideal," she said. "We would have rather played at nighttime."
Another fan declined to appear on camera, telling OutKick she had called out sick and didn’t want her boss to see her at the game.
A father attending with his wife and two children offered a clarification after his interview: "We’re responsible parents, we swear!"
He said the children had attended school for two hours before leaving and completed all their work.
Several fans questioned why the NBA’s regular-season game received the evening slot while the WNBA’s potential championship clincher was played during the workday.
"We should have been prime time," one Dream fan said.
The father who brought his family called the arrangement "kind of disrespectful to the Dream," pointing out that the Hawks were only beginning their season.
The Hawks agreed to move their game to 8 p.m. to accommodate the doubleheader. But fans who spoke with OutKick argued that the Finals should have received priority.
One Valkyries supporter said the women deserved more respect and should have gotten the prime-time slot. Still, he welcomed the opportunity to play in a much larger arena.
"It’s awesome that it’s being played at State Farm Arena rather than a 3,500-seat arena," he said. "So with that being in mind, I think that’s a win regardless."
Not everyone objected to the early start.
One Dream fan said she was fine with it and encouraged people who couldn’t attend to support the team wherever they were. A Valkyries fan who had arrived from San Francisco at 6 a.m. dismissed the suggestion that she might be tired.
"No. We’re ready," she said.
The league announced the scheduling change Monday, three days before Game 6, with tickets going on sale that afternoon.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the sellout crowds at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 and emphasized the opportunity to accommodate thousands more fans. The league also announced plans for a coordinated promotional push with its broadcast partners to build awareness of the new start time.
OutKick asked the WNBA why it chose the afternoon start, what alternatives it considered and whether it was concerned about the potential impact on viewership. The league has not responded.
USA Sports, which is airing the game on USA Network, acknowledged that the afternoon start wasn’t ideal for attracting a television audience.
"The daytime window isn’t perfect from a TV audience perspective, but the league had to make a really difficult decision taking a lot into account across multiple stakeholders," a USA Sports spokesperson told OutKick in a statement.
"What was important to us was to ultimately be a good partner and to be part of the solution here."
The fans outside State Farm Arena found ways to make Thursday work. Some took time off, and others brought children who otherwise would have been in school.
Hayes was happy to be there for his daughter, but that didn’t mean he thought the league had handled the situation well.
Login
