Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries 2026 WNBA Finals Game 2 Postgame Press Conference

[4:30] Hi, guys. [4:31] Kia, Veronica, thank you. [4:32] We're going to begin with questions. [4:34] San Francisco folks right here to your right in the front row. [4:38] Hi, guys. [4:40] Veronica, just the turnovers tonight, [4:42] it's the most turnovers you guys have had this season. [4:44] Obviously, Atlanta is pretty good at forcing those, [4:46] but you guys were able to contain it in game one. [4:48] What kind of happened tonight, do you think? [4:52] Yeah, I think we were just a little too loose with the ball. [4:54] Obviously, that's what they're known for, [4:56] and we're known for the opposite. [4:59] So, I mean, it starts with me. [5:00] Like, I can't just be throwing the ball. [5:03] It's one of the most important things. [5:05] It's taking care of it, and so I think just being organized, [5:08] all being on the same page, and then in fast break, [5:10] not getting too sped up, like being decisive. [5:12] I think we had a lot of times where we were hesitant [5:14] or we weren't on the same page, [5:15] and that's where it led to turnovers. [5:18] So it starts with me. [5:19] Got to clean that up, and that's what we'll do. [5:22] Staying in the front row to your right. [5:24] Hi. [5:24] Kia, what was the biggest difference? [5:26] What were the two or three biggest differences [5:28] between game one and game two as far as you're concerned? [5:30] Well, like we just mentioned, turnovers was a big one, [5:34] but you could tell that they ramped up their defense. [5:36] So we just got to stay focused, stay locked in. [5:39] I feel like we just had a few too many lapses on defense [5:42] where it's like we knew what to do, [5:43] but we just weren't executing. [5:45] Hey, Kia. [5:45] Did you notice anything different about Angel's game in this one? [5:49] I know she wanted to be more aggressive coming out of game one. [5:52] Yeah, she was definitely way more aggressive. [5:54] She had a great game, but we got to do a better job, [5:57] and that's all around. [5:58] Just I feel like we let everyone kind of have their way. [6:02] So I think just overall we need to be more aggressive defensively. [6:05] Hi, Veronica. [6:07] The Atlanta, they closed the third quarter on an 18-4 run. [6:10] Just what was the differentiating factor in those last six minutes, [6:13] especially given how close that game had been up to that point? [6:15] Again, just turnovers. [6:18] I genuinely believe that dictated the entire game [6:21] when they can get more looks than we do. [6:24] And then they out-hustled us on some plays. [6:26] They made more energy plays, and that's what we hang our hats on. [6:30] So it can't happen, especially not in the finals. [17:11] Thank you, Natalie. [17:12] We will start to your right in the front row. [17:14] Marissa. [17:15] Hi. [17:15] Hi, Marissa. [17:16] How are you? [17:17] Good. [17:17] Good. [17:18] The turnovers, it's the most you guys have had this year, obviously. [17:22] Atlanta is pretty good at forcing those. [17:24] What do you think happened? [17:25] And is that something that you guys can correct? [17:27] Yes. [17:27] It's controllable. [17:28] It's definitely controllable. [17:30] I thought they did a great job sprinting back, getting into the gaps, [17:33] getting into the driving lanes. [17:34] So just credit to them on their effort, their hustle, their fight. [17:37] I thought they did an excellent job getting into those lanes, [17:41] which created the turnovers. [17:43] Staying on your right, Natalie with the San Francisco folks. [17:46] Matt. [17:46] Hi, Natalie. [17:47] Hi. [17:47] Going off of that, Veronica mentioned that she felt like the dream out-hustled [17:52] and out-worked you, and that's where you guys hang your hat. [17:54] How disappointing was that to see? [17:56] Yeah, it's frustrating, right? [17:57] That's been part of our identity is because our identity is defense. [18:01] We hang our hats on that end. [18:03] So just kind of, like I said, I need to have some conversations. [18:06] I need to listen within the next 48 hours to see, like, [18:10] how did I not, you know, deliver my message about our game plan, [18:15] our fight, our physicality. [18:16] Like, today we were trying to make sure we were going to give our best fight [18:19] tonight. [18:20] So just unfortunate and definitely going to ask questions. [18:25] Staying to your right, Natalie. [18:26] Hi, Natalie. [18:27] Hi. [18:27] Veronica had mentioned that during Atlanta's third quarter run, [18:30] one of the biggest differentiating factors was their turnovers. [18:33] From your vantage point, was it just the turnovers, [18:35] or as she also mentioned, was it the hustle as well? [18:37] I mean, the hustle is the turnovers. [18:40] Because in order for you to get turnovers, [18:42] they have to kind of out-hustle you to create the turnovers, right? [18:46] So they're trying to obviously cut off our driving lanes, [18:49] be there in the gaps, right, [18:51] making us make different decisions that we normally are used to. [18:54] So just credit to them. [18:56] Yeah. [18:56] Angel Reese had 30 points, and she got off to a really quick start. [18:59] Did you notice a difference in how they kind of deployed her [19:02] or utilized her compared to game one? [19:05] Yeah, pick and roll, pocket pass. [19:06] They were definitely looking for her for the pick and roll, [19:13] looking for the pocket pass at the same time, [19:15] just trying to give her her touches around the elbow area, which she likes. [19:19] But I thought, again, her rebounding, her fight, [19:22] it was at a high level tonight. [19:25] Coach, back right. [19:28] Hey, Natalie. [19:28] Hi. [19:28] This is the second straight game where both teams have shot below 34% from the field. [19:33] I'm wondering why you think it's been such a struggle on both sides [19:36] for, you know, that particular skill. [19:38] Yeah. [19:38] What's our identity? [19:42] What? [19:42] You guys should know this. [19:43] Huh? [19:44] I need you guys to say, like, what's their identity? [19:49] But even then, it feels like a pretty low number. [19:53] Girl, what did I say? [19:56] What did I say? [19:57] Like, I mean, I'm not trying to be, you know, how I'm feeling, [20:01] but, like, we're a defensive-minded team. [20:04] So we hang our hats on the defensive end. [20:07] They played harder, and they were in the gaps better. [20:10] Yeah. [20:10] Go ahead. [20:14] To your right, Natalie. [20:16] Coach, is there – I'm sorry. [20:17] Over here. [20:18] I swear to gosh. [20:19] Oh, hey. [20:19] Is there – Kia said just – when I asked this, she said just don't foul. [20:24] But, obviously, I mean, you guys outscored them from the field in the second half, [20:29] but I think they had 24 free throws in the second half. [20:32] Are there ways defensively that you can maybe shut them down [20:35] without getting them to the line that much? [20:37] Yeah. [20:37] We're going to see, like, how close these actual fouls were. [20:41] You know, they do lunge forward at times. [20:43] And so we just got to make sure we take a close look, being, again, utilizing the film. [20:48] That's what we have to do. [20:49] Again, we want to make sure – also, no, we have to play harder, number one, [20:52] but we've got to play smarter as well. [20:56] Coach, center of the room. [20:58] Hey, Coach. [20:58] Hi. [20:59] What did you think of Gabby's performance, [21:01] and how do you think you can get her some easier looks? [21:04] Actually, I thought her looks were the same as usual. [21:07] She just missed. [21:08] And so, again, that's why if you just miss – you know, nights are going to happen. [21:12] I wish I could say she was going to shoot 100% every night. [21:16] That just isn't the case. [21:17] And so that's why, again, for us, we do rely on our defense. [21:20] Now, can we be a little bit more creative creating turnovers? [21:23] Mm-hmm. [21:24] That's something we could definitely game plan for. [21:27] Coach, the next two of you from the back right of the room. [21:30] Natalie, obviously Gabby came up limping late in the game in game one. [21:36] Did that have anything to do with maybe slight off in her aggressiveness at all? [21:40] Oh, no. [21:41] She was aggressive. [21:42] Yeah, she was fine. [21:43] Hey, Coach, going to game three now, you guys have played in some hostile environments. [21:49] You went down to Las Vegas and got the win there. [21:51] What does it take to go on the road, and what's it going to take for you to go on the road [21:55] and come away with a win in game three? [21:57] Yeah, just rest and recovery I think right away is going to be important [21:59] because this turnaround is pretty quick. [22:01] So it's really being disciplined, like I said, how can they get that mental rest too? [22:07] What does that look like? [22:08] You know, sometimes players read or sometimes they do fun games on the plane. [22:12] So it's kind of just making sure they're disciplined. [22:14] They pack what they need to pack. [22:15] Hopefully they pack quickly and just make sure they bring everything that they need [22:19] to feel really rested and recovered once we set foot in Atlanta. [22:23] Yeah. [22:24] Coach, to your left on the second row. [22:27] Hi, Kenzo. [22:28] Hey, Natalie. [22:28] Hi. [22:28] You mentioned Atlanta being a defensive-minded team. [22:33] What about that defense just makes it so sticky, so tough for you guys to, you know, [22:37] generate good looks? [22:38] Yeah. [22:38] I thought they really started to shift into those driving lanes that we were talking about. [22:43] So then they were there early, right, trying to create more passes for us. [22:46] And so when we're not in the right spots in terms of being able to receive those passes [22:51] and see the next layer of driving lanes, and that's where it got a little bit sticky. [22:55] So I thought they were, again, out-hustling us to get to those spots. [22:58] So we just have to make sure we stay composed. [23:01] If we can't punch first, stay composed and get back to our space soon. [23:05] Coach, one more question to your right in the third row. [23:08] Hey. [23:08] Hey, Natalie. [23:09] Hi. [23:10] Chris Paul, Armand Hill, we're here. [23:12] Saw them sitting on the court side, I should say, together pregame. [23:15] How have you leaned on your mentors throughout this process, and how have they shown up for you? [23:21] Yeah. [23:21] Not wanting everything to happen so quickly and so perfectly. [23:24] You know, you guys know I'm obsessive, and basketball is my passion, and so I have a lot of fire. [23:31] And so patience is what Armand is saying, you know, and I think the biggest thing Chris has been saying, [23:37] just continue to instill confidence. [23:39] There's going to be some highs. [23:40] There's going to be some lows. [23:42] Be there for the players for their lows. [23:45] And then it's okay. [23:46] This is what the finals is about. [23:48] This is what playoffs is about. [23:49] It's going to get sticky. [23:50] It's how do we, though, get really connected even more after losses to make sure we're on the same game plan in game three. [23:59] So they have really good experience that I'm leaning on. [24:03] Coach, thank you. [24:05] Thanks, you guys. [24:06] Stay with us. [24:07] Our Atlanta contingent is on the way. [31:37] And, Coach, Angel, thank you for joining us. [31:38] We're going to start with our Atlanta contingent on the back right side of the room. [31:46] Hi, Angel and Jordan. [31:48] You guys closed that third quarter on an 18-4 run. [31:52] What did you think kind of helped you guys ratchet up the defense to kind of shift the game in that moment? [31:58] Yeah, I think last game we kind of did that, too. [32:00] I think it was, what, 17-9. [32:03] And we just got back to our identity about who we are and kept our foot on the pedal. [32:08] And we didn't let up. [32:09] And everybody was just on the same page. [32:10] We had each other's back. [32:12] And that's just Atlanta basketball. [32:15] Also in the back of the room. [32:16] Angel, you're the youngest player in WNBA history to have 30 points and 16 rebounds in a WNBA finals game. [32:23] Just what inspired you tonight to have the game that you had tonight? [32:26] And for Coach and Jordan, what was it like to see her have this game tonight? [32:31] Yeah, for me, I think I let my team down last game. [32:33] Not really contributing as much as I could in the second half. [32:37] And not even just about scoring. [32:39] My screen quality, me hustling and running to get rebounds. [32:41] And just doing the things that they know me to do. [32:44] So, I just wanted to make sure I came out tonight and left my mark and did whatever I could to get the win. [32:50] And I think I did that tonight. [32:52] Staying in the back, right? [32:54] I'm sorry. [32:56] Yeah, I mean, Angel is such a generational talent. [32:59] Like, just to see her thrive in the finals has been really special to watch. [33:05] And you can just see that she wants it really bad. [33:07] She's such a competitor. [33:08] And we feed off of her energy. [33:10] And so, I think tonight she set the tone for sure. [33:13] And it just trickled down through the whole team. [33:15] And so, she was talking to us throughout the whole game, keeping us confident. [33:20] And at one point, she was like, I need the ball. [33:23] I need the ball. [33:23] And we gave her the ball. [33:24] And she went to work. [33:25] And that's why she ended up with a 30-piece. [33:27] So, just to see her in this moment on such a high stage and just, you know, executing and doing what she needs to do for our team is just really special to watch. [33:37] Yeah, and I just, even from going in the locker room, like, the first person I made eye contact with was Angel. [33:46] And I'm like, oh, I like this look. [33:48] I like this look. [33:49] And, you know, she started off aggressive. [33:55] You know, one thing that we try to do is give her just a couple more breaks during the game so that she could just keep that intensity going throughout the entire game. [34:04] And she was just fantastic, just on both ends of the floor, just a superior performance. [34:13] Now, staying on the back right side of the room. [34:16] This one is also for all three of you. [34:18] This is the first WNBA Finals win for the Atlanta Dream. [34:21] What does that say about this team and what you all have built? [34:24] Yeah, I think it's just a start. [34:27] Throughout the entire year, we just continue to stick together and know who we are. [34:32] And we have the city behind us. [34:34] We have the team. [34:35] We have the coaches and everybody broadly behind us. [34:37] So, it feels really good. [34:38] This is just the next step of who Atlanta is and who Atlanta is going to continue to be for the next couple of years. [34:45] Left side of the room, row two. [34:47] Angel, right over here. [34:48] Midway through the third quarter, you were kind of backpedaling down the floor. [34:51] I think it had been a minute. [34:52] Yeah, I hadn't gotten a couple touches. [34:53] You were talking to the bench. [34:55] What kind of message were you trying to send to the bench then? [34:58] Maybe Jordan spoiled it before with the give me the ball thing. [35:02] Yeah, I didn't. [35:05] I'm not going to tell you exactly what I said. [35:07] But, like I said, I think I left the team down last game by only getting two shot attempts. [35:14] And that was on me. [35:15] Like, I wasn't aggressive enough. [35:16] And I said that it wasn't anything that they did. [35:19] It was just me. [35:19] Like, I think I got a little lax. [35:23] I didn't take advantage of the opportunities. [35:25] And Carl always talks about the screen quality. [35:28] And I think that also had helped me a lot. [35:29] When I can get and set good screens, belly on body, and pick and roll and find my spots, [35:34] I think that makes it a lot easier, too. [35:36] And I don't realize it in the moment. [35:38] But now, like, looking at this game and being able to put a complete game together, [35:42] it just goes to show Carl was right. [35:46] On the right side of the room. [35:47] Yeah, this is for Jordan, please. [35:50] You were close to a triple-double tonight. [35:52] And with this gritty and tough as this series is, how happy were you with the way you were [35:56] able to say it would affect many aspects of the game? [36:00] Honestly, I don't think I played well. [36:04] I think I forced a lot of tough shots for myself. [36:07] I feel like I was just overthinking a lot. [36:10] Defensively, I felt like I was given a lot of opportunities for them to get downhill. [36:14] I wasn't being as aggressive as I should have been. [36:18] And then timely turnovers down the stretch. [36:20] So I feel like I could have played a lot better. [36:23] I mean, the stats looks like I had a triple-double. [36:25] But to me, I know I could have played a lot better. [36:27] But I'm just glad that we came together as a team. [36:31] We were able to win. [36:31] But next game, I'll definitely be better offensively and defensively. [36:37] On the right side of the room in the back. [36:38] Angel, when you say you felt like you let the team down, I guess, what did you do last [36:43] night or yesterday to reset? [36:45] And then when Carl says you came in and he saw the look on your face, did you come in [36:52] with a different feeling about yourself today? [36:54] Yeah, I was hungry. [36:56] I wanted one. [36:57] And I think we let one slip away. [36:59] And you can't do that, especially on the road where this is a good environment and a good [37:04] team. [37:05] And we all came together and were pissed. [37:07] We felt disappointed. [37:09] We felt embarrassed. [37:10] And we didn't like the outcome of that last game. [37:12] And we didn't want another one to let slip. [37:14] And like JC said, I bring a lot of energy in the locker room. [37:17] If it's just a joke, if it's just talking shit, it's just my energy. [37:22] And I wanted to make sure I was ready and on my toes. [37:25] And whatever the team needed tonight, I was willing to do. [37:28] And that's just what the outcome was. [37:31] Standing to your right. [37:34] Coach, sorry, over here. [37:35] Not much from Ryan Howard offensively in tonight's game, but she set a WNBA record for steals [37:40] in a finals game. [37:41] And I'm just wondering what you saw from her on that end of the ball and how impactful [37:45] that really felt to you from the sidelines. [37:48] Yeah. [37:49] Unfortunately, Rye got in a little foul trouble early, kind of limited her aggressiveness [37:53] offensively. [37:54] She, you know, a little hesitant to get downhill for a minute. [37:57] But boy, did she have an impact on the defensive side of the ball today. [38:01] Like deflections, steals, getting us out in transition, making good decisions with the ball. [38:08] I mean, you know, she came up huge for us despite the foul trouble. [38:16] Hey, coach. [38:17] I'm sorry. [38:18] Middle of the room, Melissa. [38:19] Good to go. [38:20] Hey. [38:20] After game one, you talked about how you were really satisfied with the defensive effort. [38:25] And then today, it was like even better. [38:28] What adjustments did you ask them for? [38:33] Well, I mean, we talked about some defensive breakdowns and, you know, how to clean those [38:38] up. [38:38] But, you know, we were happy with how the intensity that we were showing guarding and that we were [38:44] all working together to try and limit their good shots. [38:48] We felt like we gave up too many second shots. [38:50] So, we just wanted to make sure we were doing our job on the boards. [38:54] And then, you know, offensively is where we thought that we could play better. [38:59] And I thought our – even though we didn't shoot it great again, our shot quality was [39:03] better. [39:03] Our pace was better. [39:06] So, I thought the players did a great job taking, you know, from film, taking what we [39:13] emphasized and then making it a reality on the floor. [39:16] So, all the credit to them. [39:19] In the back, on the right side of the room. [39:21] Hey, coach. [39:22] Coach, this is the second straight game that you and Natalie have both come in and said [39:25] that you thought you could have made more shots than you actually did. [39:27] I'm just wondering why you think this has been a struggle shooting series from both sides. [39:32] I mean, I don't have the answer to that. [39:35] You know, I do know both teams are defending at a really high level with a really high intensity. [39:41] So, you know, you may rush your shot. [39:46] They're closing out hard. [39:48] Could be a lot of factors. [39:50] Maybe we're just – both teams are settling in. [39:53] But, you know, we'll keep track of how we're generating good shots. [40:00] And as long as we're generating good shots, we feel good about it. [40:03] We know we have good shooters. [40:04] We know we have good attackers. [40:07] So – and we know we can get extra possessions if we're doing the things that we need to do. [40:12] So, we'll go back to Atlanta and hopefully – and we'll have to. [40:18] We'll have to play even better. [40:20] And our team realizes that. [40:22] We know how good Golden State is. [40:24] All right. [40:24] We have time for two more. [40:25] We're going to start on the left side of the room in row one. [40:27] Hey, y'all. [40:28] It's Meg Hall with USA Today. [40:29] Congratulations on your win for the first time in franchise history. [40:32] Angel, this question is for you. [40:33] A couple of weeks ago you mentioned that Neko Goumike had mentioned to you [40:36] how deep you would have to dig for the playoffs. [40:38] So, that came to my mind. [40:40] So, I'm curious if it came to yours in this moment where you guys needed – [40:43] and absolutely needed a win before going back. [40:45] Yeah. [40:46] I think – [40:51] Unfortunately, Rye got in a little foul trouble early. [40:55] Kind of limited her aggressiveness offensively. [40:57] She, you know, a little hesitant to get downhill for a minute. [41:01] But, boy, did she have an impact on the defensive side of the ball today. [41:05] Like, deflections, steals, getting us out in transition, [41:09] making good decisions with the ball. [41:11] I mean, you know, she came up huge for us despite the foul trouble. [41:20] Hey, coach. [41:21] I'm sorry. [41:22] Middle of the room. [41:22] Good to go. [41:23] Hey. [41:24] After game one you talked about how you were really satisfied [41:27] with the defensive effort and then today it was, like, even better. [41:31] What adjustments did you ask them for? [41:35] Well, I mean, we talked about some defensive breakdowns and, you know, [41:41] how to clean those up. [41:42] But, you know, we were happy with how the intensity that we were showing guarding [41:47] and that we were all working together to try and limit their good shots. [41:51] We felt like we gave up too many second shots. [41:54] So, we just wanted to make sure we were doing our job on the boards. [41:57] And then, you know, offensively is where we thought that we could play better. [42:03] And I thought our – even though we didn't shoot it great again, [42:06] our shot quality was better. [42:07] Our pace was better. [42:09] So, I thought the players did a great job taking, you know, from film, [42:16] taking what we emphasized and then making it a reality on the floor. [42:20] So, all the credit to them. [42:22] In the back on the right side of the room. [42:25] Hey, coach. [42:26] This is the second straight game that you and Natalie have both come in [42:28] and said that you thought you could have made more shots than you actually did. [42:31] I'm just wondering why you think this has been a struggle shooting series [42:34] from both sides. [42:36] I mean, I don't have the answer to that. [42:39] You know, I do know both teams are defending at a really high level [42:43] with a really high intensity. [42:45] So, you know, you may rush your shot. [42:50] They're closing out hard. [42:51] Could be a lot of factors. [42:53] Maybe we're just – both teams are settling in. [42:57] But, you know, we'll keep track of how we're generating good shots. [43:03] And as long as we're generating good shots, we feel good about it. [43:06] We know we have good shooters. [43:08] We know we have good attackers. [43:10] So – and we know we can get extra possessions if we're doing the things [43:15] that we need to do. [43:16] So, we'll go back to Atlanta and hopefully – and we'll have to. [43:21] We'll have to play even better. [43:23] And our team realizes that. [43:25] We know how good Golden State is. [43:27] All right. [43:28] We have time for two more. [43:29] We're going to start on the left side of the room in row one. [43:31] Hey, y'all. [43:31] It's Meg Hall with USA Today. [43:32] Congratulations on your win for the first time in franchise history. [43:36] Angel, this question is for you. [43:37] A couple of weeks ago you mentioned that Neku Ogumike had mentioned to you [43:40] how deep you would have to dig for the playoffs. [43:42] So, that came to my mind. [43:43] So, I'm curious if it came to yours in this moment where you guys needed – [43:46] and absolutely needed a win before going back. [43:48] Yeah. [43:49] Yeah. [43:49] Yeah. [43:49] Yeah. [43:49] Yeah. [43:49] Yeah. [43:50] Yeah. [43:50] I think it's been so many people that have poured into me in the last two months, [43:55] from my teammates to former teammates to active teammates. [43:58] They were telling me I was the youngest player alongside of JJ and Stewie. [44:04] They told me to go get it. [44:06] Like, you've got to continue to be you and be aggressive. [44:08] And it feels good to have vets and great people in this league [44:12] and great players in this league that have poured into me and believe in me [44:15] and know who I am. [44:17] And, yeah, I just try to go out there and do my best. [44:20] That's all I try to do, just give it my all and do my best. [44:23] And I feel like last game I didn't give it everything I could give. [44:27] And I walked off the court not feeling like myself. [44:30] And I wanted to make sure that this game I did everything I could do [44:33] to walk off the court and feel like who I am. [44:35] All right, last one, front and center. [44:38] Jordan, this is for you. [44:39] When Angel demands the ball the way she did [44:41] and TV cameras caught her using some lively language, [44:45] what kind of impact does that have beyond the practical of getting her the ball? [44:49] What kind of impact does that have on the team sort of emotionally [44:51] when she's that animated and fired up? [44:54] I mean, yeah, we know who Angel is. [44:55] We know she brings a lot of energy. [44:58] And, I mean, I did feel it like a couple possessions where we went away from her [45:01] and she was the one that was, you know, giving us that energy [45:04] and giving us some great offense. [45:05] So, when we had that timeout, right away it was like we need to give the ball to Angel. [45:11] And that's something that she just demands [45:13] and she was having a great offensive night. [45:15] Again, just the energy that she brings for our team, like we feed off of that. [45:20] And so, when she's in that mode, we know we got to give her the ball [45:23] to some form of capacity and trying to give her as much space as she can [45:27] to attack and do what she does best. [45:32] Jordan, Coach, Angel, thank you. [45:34] Thank you. [45:34] Thank you.