Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko blames officials for Angel Reese's struggles in Game 5

Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko defended star center Angel Reese against Golden State Valkyries defenders following a decisive Game 5 loss.

The Dream fell to the Valkyries 64-55 on Monday night, dropping to a 2-3 series deficit in the WNBA Finals. Smesko argued that the officiating crew missed a large volume of contact calls against Reese. He described the disparity in physical play as ridiculous compared to the treatment of other players.

Reese finished the game with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. She went 3-for-4 from the free throw line and drew four personal fouls. The coach stated that teams at this level cannot make so many mistakes. He also noted missed double-dribble and travel calls against Golden State.

Reese expressed frustration with the physicality, noting it has been a recurring issue throughout her season. She said she is trying to learn how to play through the contact. She specifically mentioned the difficulty of switching onto post players who are significantly stronger than her opponents. She found it frustrating when she is pushed before establishing a position.

This is the first time in Reese's career she has scored on two or fewer field goals in consecutive games. It is also only the second time she has been held to single-digit scoring in back-to-back games. In Game 4, she scored eight points on 2-of-12 shooting and drew four fouls. She felt a shift in the officiating style after Atlanta took a 2-1 series lead.

The Dream attempted 116 free throws in the first four games of the series. They became the second team in WNBA history to attempt at least 25 free throws in three consecutive Finals games. However, their activity dropped sharply in Game 5. The team hit 11-of-14 free throws, which is their fewest attempt total in a postseason game this year.

Game 5 featured historically low scoring for both teams. Golden State's 64 points were the fewest in a Finals victory since the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005. Atlanta's 55 points were the fewest in a Finals game since the Mercury in 2021. The Dream shot 29.2% from the field and 23.5% in the paint, the worst paint percentage in the postseason.

Smesko acknowledged that his team missed shots they should have made. He insisted that pushing someone with two hands must count as a foul. Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said the physicality was expected for two defensive-minded teams. She stated that both groups want to win and that the intensity is part of the series.