Angel Reese has heard plenty of criticism since entering the WNBA, with her offensive struggles often overshadowing what she brings to the court. But the Atlanta Dream star is starting to change that conversation with her performances when it matters most. After helping Atlanta take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals, Reese is earning praise for how she’s handled the pressure, grown as a player, and stepped up as a leader at just 24. Former college basketball player Rachel DeMita is among those giving Reese her flowers, calling attention to the redemption arc that’s unfolded during her first season in Atlanta.

In a recent clip posted on X, DeMita made her feelings clear with a caption that read, “We Owe Angel Reese An Apology.”

“I do have to give her props and give her flowers for everything that she’s kind of overcome,” the sports content creator said. “I know that we talk a lot about what people are saying on social media, and you should just ignore it and all this kind of stuff. It’s like she got a lot. There was a lot of noise around her. Obviously, the two biggest players who get the most noise and the most people talking about them, and the most people that love them or hate them is Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. And Angel Reese just like talk about the redemption arc that she’s had.”

“So many people (are) talking about her, a lot of haters, a lot of noise. She has a lot of people who love her as well. But the fact that she was really able to just lock in on basketball, create her own destiny when it comes to getting to the Atlanta Dream, knowing that Chicago wasn’t going to be a place that she could thrive, how she’s been performing on the court, how she’s been handling the pressure, how she’s been a leader for her team at such a young age. She’s been a leader for this Atlanta Dream team, and she’s only 24.”

“This is her first season with the Atlanta Dream. And so I again have to give her her props, have to give her her flowers for that because that’s a pretty big swing and just even perception and cutting through the noise and becoming an even better basketball player than she was. So shout out to Angel Reese. She’s only two games away from being a WNBA champion,” DeMita further added.

Angel Reese has long been one of the league’s most productive rebounders, but her offensive game has also drawn criticism, particularly when missed close-range shots have led to accusations that she pads her rebounding numbers.

However, her recent playoff performances have shushed the haters. A look at her numbers across the 2025 season, the 2026 regular season, and the playoffs offers a clearer picture of how her game has evolved.

Her scoring climbed from 14.7 points per game in 2025 to 16.4 points per game during the 2026 regular season, and she took another step forward in the playoffs. She also earned Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, but it has been her performances in Games 2 and 3 of the WNBA Finals that have changed the narrative around her.

Angel Reese led Atlanta in both points and rebounds in Games 2 and 3, recording 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2 before following that performance with 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3. Her ability to recognize mismatches, account for height differentials, demand the ball in advantageous positions, and turn opportunities into and-one finishes has made her a dangerous offensive presence.

She also played a major role in helping Atlanta rewrite its Finals history. The Dream entered their fourth Finals appearance without a single victory in the championship series, having lost all their previous Finals games since their first appearance in 2010. But that changed on October 19, when Atlanta finally secured a Finals win and began building momentum against the Golden State Valkyries.

Now leading the series 2-1, the Dream have a chance to move one step closer to their first championship in Game 4. At just 24, Angel Reese has become one of Atlanta’s most influential postseason performers, making her impact as a rebounder, defensive force, and leader. So with two more wins separating the Dream from a title, she has an opportunity to turn the criticism that followed her into a story of redemption and give her doubters even more reason to reconsider.

The post “Owe Angel Reese an Apology”: Ex-College Player Gets Strong Admission About the Dream Star ‘Off Her Chest’ Before Game 4 appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.