It was exactly one year ago when Angel Reese proclaimed her goal for the 2026 WNBA season.
“Manifesting the finals>>>” she tweeted on Oct. 10, 2025, at 9:01 p.m. ET.
One year later, Reese made it to the WNBA Finals with her new team, the Atlanta Dream, after defeating the New York Liberty on Friday night, 85-83. It marked the first Finals appearance for Atlanta since 2013, and Reese’s first-ever chance at being crowned a WNBA champion.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream celebrates during Game 3 of the semifinals against the New York Liberty on Oct. 9, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. (NBAE)
After the Game 3 win, Reese told ESPN, “I manifested this,” and the receipt was obviously there on her social media.
“When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting,” she added. “This team has poured so much into me. We poured so much into each other.
“I posted and tweeted, 10/10/25, that I was manifesting the Finals, and this is my moment.”
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Reese went on to “thank God for this moment,” believing she is “supposed to be here.”
Securing a championship is something Reese has done in the past, namely with her LSU Tigers when she went head-to-head with Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball national championship three years ago. Reese and the Tigers came out on top in the historic contest that drew millions of viewers due to the rivalry between the programs.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream looks on during Game 3 of the semifinals against the New York Liberty on Oct. 9, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. (NBAE)
On Friday night, Reese did her best to help the Dream reach the final series of the season, dropping 22 points while securing nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. It was a three-game sweep of New York, and the Dream now head into the Finals with the momentum needed to secure the franchise’s first-ever trophy.
It won’t be an easy task, though, as Reese will have to go up against a stacked Golden State Valkyries squad that took down A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in a surprising series.
But Reese, who was named Defensive Player of the Year this season, is hoping her manifestation ends in the best way possible, hoisting the Finals trophy alongside her teammates and being crowned a WNBA champion for life.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream smiles during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty on Oct. 9, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. (NBAE)
OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will begin on Oct. 17 at Golden State.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
