Angel Reese shines again as Dream down Valkyries to lead WNBA Finals

Angel Reese's dream debut in the WNBA Finals keeps getting better. The 24-year-old followed up her 30-point explosion in Game 2 with another towering performance on Wednesday night, scoring 21 points as the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Reese, a three-time WNBA All-Star and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, once again led Atlanta's scoring and was one of five Dream players to finish in double figures, with Rhyne Howard adding 16 points. She also bossed the defensive end with 12 rebounds and three steals. In doing so, Reese became the first woman in history to record consecutive double-doubles in three WNBA Finals games, and the youngest player ever to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in back-to-back Finals games. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 15 points.

The visitors refused to fold. After Reese's early three-pointer helped Atlanta seize the initiative, Golden State trimmed the deficit to six by half-time and drew level at 48-48 early in the third quarter. But the Dream answered with a decisive 8-0 run and took full control, stretching the lead to 21 points late in the fourth.

"We feel good – we're still pissed that we lost the first game," Reese said afterwards. "We know how good we are; we know our identity." She was in no mood to celebrate early: "We're all happy for sure, but it's going to take more. The job is not finished. It feels good when you're in the finals – when you can do it at the highest level; this is what I live for."

Both teams are chasing a first WNBA championship. The Dream have lost all three of their previous trips to the Finals, most recently in 2013, while the Valkyries are the expansion franchise that made the playoffs in their debut season last year. Game 4 takes place in Atlanta on Saturday.