WNBA FINALS: DREAM VS. VALKYRIES

October 26, 2026

Karl Smesko

Angel Reese

Rhyne Howard

Atlanta Dream

Game 5: Postgame

Golden State Valkyries 64, Atlanta Dream 55

Q. You talked about coming out tonight better, what went wrong tonight that you guys weren't able to overcome?

KARL SMESKO: Well, I mean, I thought we came out with great intensity, like defensively. We were really locked in, rebounding. We did a really good job. We forced a lot of tough shots. We just didn't get as many good looks especially in transition as we'd want.

And then you know, when we did work and get open shots, we shot a really poor percentage. And you know we got better shooters than that and we've just got to be ready to knock down these shots when they become available. Give Golden State credit, they are a great defensive team but we are going to have to execute offensively better and knock down shots when we get them.

Q. This is the point in the series where fatigue is going to play a role, if it's going to, from your vantage points on the court, on the sideline, how did you see that impact tonight's game?

KARL SMESKO: I don't think we're tired. I think -- I mean, we're playing hard. Defensively we're playing very well. We just need to put a good offensive game together in this next game, and then we'll be in position to do what we're intending to do.

Nothing's changed. We win two games, we're champions. That starts with the next game, and we'll be locked in and we'll have a great game a couple days from now.

Q. Angel, has this series been somewhat like you maybe thought it would be, punch, counter punch, with how good these defenses are, and if so, what do you think will be the key from what you've taken away from these last two games to get Game 6?

ANGEL REESE: Yeah, for sure. I think obviously the best two teams are here for a reason, and defense wins championships. So it's about who is going to be tougher. It's about who is going to get down and guard, who is going to maximize possessions but who is also going to make shots.

Obviously we've struggled making shots, but I would still believe in our team. Still believe that we can win this.

One game at a time. Going back home, Game 6, and getting back to us, I don't think it's going to rain too much longer for us. I think we're going to hit our shots at the right time and the process sometimes is a little bit harder, and you want to go through hard stuff to get what you want in life, and we're just going to take it one game at a time and just get back to who we are.

Q. Angel, what was the message in the locker room about facing elimination and the type of energy that you guys need to bring in Game 6 to force a Game 7?

ANGEL REESE: Just what I said, making sure we believe that we can get there. Like right now, 3-2, our backs are against the wall but when we get to go home and play in front of our home crowd again and being to get a couple of days rest and get back to Atlanta Dream basketball, I think we feel good about ourselves and everybody in the locker room is dialed into to who we are.

As long as we are all on the same page, we can do it. We still believe in the locker room that we can do it. We look at ourselves in the mirror, how we can individually be better for the team and I just continue to believe and I think everybody in the locker room believes.

Q. What is it about Kiah Stokes that makes her such a good defender? She had an amazing performance tonight?

KARL SMESKO: She has great length and great instincts. She's really good about protecting the rim. We've just got to get her moving a little bit more, make it a little bit harder for her to just pack it in the paint.

But you know, give her credit. She's having a great series and she made some shots today, which were also big for them. So you know, give her the credit that she deserves. She's having a great series.

Q. Eight shots attempts, a couple of offensive fouls. What did the Valkyries do to make it tough, if it was tough for you tonight?

ANGEL REESE: Honestly for me, I'm still trying to figure out how to play through the physicality. A lot of us are getting fouled, and they are not calling it or we're talking to the ref after, and they are saying, oh, we'll get you next time.

So it is a little frustrating, especially in the moment of it. I mean, I'm kind of used to it because this was happening throughout the season. So I have to just continue to play through it. But honestly, for my teammates, when they are getting slapped to the ground or goggles knocked off, it is frustrating to keep them in and keep them confident.

Yeah, we'll figure it out and we'll just have to continue to push through the physicality, and hopefully it goes our way the next game.

Q. Rhyne, curious how you evaluate your game tonight. I know you had a bigger game than the last couple. What went well, and also who on the team might have been pouring into you over the last couple games?

RHYNE HOWARD: I mean, I hit more shots tonight than I have in the past. But there's not anybody on the team who hasn't poured into me. You know, everybody's been keeping each other confident. I think for me personally, I just can read the game, when we set good screens, when we move the ball with pace and we're making quick decisions, it allows for easier and open shots. You know, I think I just knocked them down today more than what I have in the past.

Q. Since Natalie made the adjustment after Game 3 with the starting lineup, it seems there have been some more offensive struggles. Is it the adjustments she made or is there something else you're seeing why offensively, just the team has not been able to get going the way it has?

KARL SMESKO: Well, I give them credit for playing good defense. They are known for their defense, and they have been playing great defense throughout this series.

But I mean, I do want to have Angel's back here. Like the contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous. It's just ridiculous. And we should have gone to the foul line six to eight more times just on that.

And then, to miss double dribbles, and travels, multiple, that always led to points, I mean, you can't be at this level and make that many mistakes.

So you know, there's things that are on us, like we're missing shots we should make. But at the same time, that needs to be a whole lot better than it was. And it's time that if you push somebody with two hands, as they drive, it's got to be a foul. And I'm kind of tired of some of the excuses that I'm hearing.

Q. Are there matchups that you've seen in the last two games that you feel like you could take advantage of going forward in a Game 6 and potentially 7?

KARL SMESKO: You know, they are switching some things. I definitely think that if we work together and move the ball more, we'll get better shots. We don't get as many good shots when, you know, it involves a lot of dribbling and the ball gets stuck in one spot. We need to get it moving. Put more pressure on their defense.

That way, rather than the isolation part of it, we're going to have to really work together to create spacing, have solid screens, and create good shots and then be ready to knock down those shots. Just be ready to knock them down.

Q. Going back to the officiating, you said you have played through a lot of physicality all year but has it been an uptick, do you feel, in the series, the past couple games, just tonight? Like when did you start having these feelings towards these calls?

ANGEL REESE: I would definitely say last game for sure. There was also a possession where Gabby pulled me on purpose, and she was screaming "foul, foul, foul," and they didn't call it. That definitely was frustrating for sure. Her team is saying it, and they are all screaming "foul" but the refs, I don't know what's going on, why they can't hear it.

And I know I have the mismatch, especially we were talking about matchups, so when I do switch on the post, I'm a lot stronger than the opponent. I should be able to turn and they are calling an offensive foul, but I'm getting pushed before that. So that is frustrating for sure.

So, yeah, it definitely shifted, when we went up 2-1 and things shifted, and I don't know what happened, but it definitely took a big turn.