Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese celebrated with her mother courtside on October 9 after Atlanta swept the New York Liberty to reach the 2026 WNBA Finals, and she made clear who the moment belonged to.
Reese scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the 85-83 win at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, closing out a 3-0 series sweep. Rhyne Howard added 21 points and Jordin Canada chipped in 19 with 11 assists.
After the final buzzer, cameras caught Reese embracing her mother, Angel Webb Reese, and the two exchanged a coordinated handshake. Videos of the celebration spread online the next day, according to Yahoo Sports.
Reese: Her Mother Raised Her on Her Own
Speaking to reporters after the win, Reese reflected on her mother's years of work as a single parent in Maryland.
“Being a single mom, raising me and my brother by herself, our grandparents were very helpful, she did a lot of work on her own, and for me to repay her, and by her living through me and being able to support me and show up, that's all I ask for,” Reese said, in comments reported by USA Today.
Reese has never hidden how much her mother means to her career. She learned the game tagging along to her mother's youth team practices, dribbling beside the court as a child before joining the same league where her mom coached at age five.
A Basketball Family With Deep Roots
The basketball pedigree runs in the family. Angel Webb Reese played forward at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, from 1988 to 1992, averaging 13.2 rebounds per game in her final season and earning first-team All-East Coast Conference recognition. She finished her college career with 1,390 points and 932 rebounds.
Reese's younger brother, Julian, played for Maryland's men's team while Angel starred for the Terrapins women. Their driveway games grew so fierce that their mother eventually took down the family hoop.
Reese wears jersey number 10 as a family tradition. Her mother wore it at UMBC, and Julian wore it at Maryland. Reese switched to the number at LSU in the 2022-23 season once it became available before SEC play.
From Baltimore to the Big Stage
Reese attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, where she won three consecutive IAAM championships and averaged 18 points and 20 rebounds per game. She earned McDonald's All-American honors in 2020.
Iowa fans remember her well. Reese helped LSU beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the 2023 national championship game in Dallas, contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds to the Tigers' first title. That season she averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds and set an NCAA record with 34 double-doubles.
Chicago drafted Reese seventh overall in 2024. After two seasons with the Sky, in which she averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds, Atlanta acquired her on April 6, 2026, in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.
A Record-Setting Season in Atlanta
Reese's first season in Atlanta has been historic. She won WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on October 1, receiving 46 of 74 votes and becoming the first Dream player to earn the honor.
Her regular season included WNBA records of 521 total rebounds, 206 offensive boards, and 32 double-doubles. She grabbed 26 rebounds against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 24, another league record.
Off the court, Reese has already put her money where her heart is. On a January 2025 episode of her show, Unapologetically Angel, she surprised her mother by revealing she had paid off the mortgage on her home.
What's Next: Valkyries Await
Reese and the Dream now face the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Finals, with Game 1 set for October 17 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The best-of-seven series pits second-seeded Golden State, which finished 32-12, against fourth-seeded Atlanta, which finished 30-14. Neither franchise has won a championship, though the Dream have reached the Finals three times before.
For Reese, the chance to win a title with her mother watching means everything. As she told reporters in Brooklyn, having her mom courtside is the only repayment she needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Angel Reese's mother?
Angel Webb Reese played college basketball at UMBC from 1988 to 1992, where she earned the school's Female Athlete of the Year award and first-team All-East Coast Conference honors.
When do the 2026 WNBA Finals start?
Game 1 between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries is scheduled for October 17, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
What records did Angel Reese set in 2026?
Reese set WNBA single-season records with 521 total rebounds, 206 offensive rebounds, and 32 double-doubles, and she won Defensive Player of the Year.
Did Angel Reese pay off her mother's mortgage?
Yes. Reese revealed on her show, Unapologetically Angel, in January 2025 that she had paid off the remaining mortgage on her mother's home.