Angel Reese Savagely Dismisses NY Liberty Ahead Of Intense Playoff Matchup

USA Basketball

Round 2 of the WNBA Playoffs begins today, and Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream don’t give a “d-mn” about who’s in front of them. While speaking with the media after the Dream’s Saturday practice, Reese opened up about her and her teammates’ mindset heading into the semifinals, saying they’re locked in and focused on the task at hand.

Angel Reese Is Ready For Round 2 Of The WNBA Playoffs, Hints That She’s Not Scared

USA Basketball

According to The New York Post, Reese gave a short, simple answer to a reporter who asked the LSU alum for her thoughts on the New York Liberty’s confidence heading into Round 2 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I don’t give a d-mn,” she said. “Nobody wants the Atlanta Dream in it. And we have that chip on our shoulder and we’re just gonna continue to fight through it.”

Her comments come after Liberty co-owner Joe Tsai rushed to social media after his team’s shocking win over the Minnesota Lynx and declared them the absolute best.

“Seeding doesn’t matter,” he wrote. “We’re the best team in the playoffs.”

Breanna Stewart And The New York Liberty Think They’ve Got A Shot At Beating The Atlanta Dream

The WNBA semifinals feature the four best teams, so it’s sure to be an all-out showdown once the ball is officially tipped. Before today, the Liberty stunned the world by taking down the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx in a clean sweep.

The electrifying win seems to have only motivated the Liberty further, especially Breanna Stewart, who told reporters she wasn’t concerned about commentary on her game. “Honestly, I know that I’m the best. I feel that every time I step on the court. Nobody can do what I do. I’m detaching from judgment,” she said.

Liberty player Rebecca Allen also spoke about New York’s brutal takedown of the Lynx and said nobody on their team believed they were incapable of winning. “We weren’t a traditional eighth seed by any means, and I think we’re just really showing what we are capable of and hey, this is the moment that we’re stepping into the team that we are. That’s great timing in my opinion,” she said.

Angel Reese And The Atlanta Dream Have Shown Themselves To Be Tough Competitors

While the Liberty’s confidence seems high, it’s important to remember that the Dream beat New York 2-1 during the regular season, with the last two matchups occurring just a week-and-a-half ago.

Before that, the Dream also took down the Chicago Sky, the Las Vegas Aces, and the Minnesota Lynx. During Round 1 of the playoffs, the Georgia-based team swept the Washington Mystics 2-0.

However, Reese, who is hoping to add her first WNBA championship title to her resume, said winning one series “is not enough” for her or her teammates.

“Being able to turn the page, those are the teams that continue to advance. You can’t get too high, can’t get too low in these moments — just continuing to stick together. Nobody’s gonna give you anything. Everybody’s gonna come for you and come for our heads,” she said.

Atlanta Dream Guard Believes The Time For Their Team Is Now

And Reese isn’t the only one on her team praising her peers. Guard Jordin Canada also spoke positively of her teammates and said she believes the time for the Dream to win a championship is now.

“We’ve been hitting our stride as of late, and so I honestly believe that we can win it all, I think the biggest thing for us is just locking in and being consistent and stick to the game plan, making sure we’re doing what we need to do to play the best Atlanta Dream basketball that we can play,” she said.

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Plus, The Dream Have Defensive Player Of The Year In Angel Reese On Their Team

In addition to hitting their stride, the Dream have some of the league’s best defenders, including the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year in Reese. According to The Blast, the 24-year-old won the award by a landslide, earning 46 of 74 votes.

Reese was presented with the trophy by her mother, also named Angel Reese, and said in a previous interview that she wanted her teammates, Canada and Rhyne Howard, to celebrate the win with her, adding that they “deserve it just as much as I do.”

“I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. This is just the beginning,” Reese finished.

The Angel Reese Savagely Dismisses NY Liberty Ahead Of Intense Playoff Matchup first appeared on The Blast