Draymond Green Explains Angel Reese’s WNBA Finals Draw: “They’re Gonna Watch to See Her Fail”

In the years leading up to her first WNBA Finals appearance, Angel Reese has faced a lot of criticism for her on-court performances.

Draymond Green Explains Angel Reese’s WNBA Finals Draw: “They’re Gonna Watch to See Her Fail”

Angel Reese and Draymond Green (Image via Polymarket Hoops/X)

In a few hours, Angel Reese and her Atlanta Dream will take on Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center for Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals.

If anyone had said those two teams would meet in the season’s most important playoff series, others would probably have chuckled. The Dream had their sights set on the championship, but some felt they were a season away.

Opinions on the Valkyries, a team led by castoffs, were almost the same. However, those early-season naysayers should be surprised that both teams have drawn massive demand for tickets.

Never-before-seen prices are going for the cheapest tickets, with even the average going beyond anything the league has sold before. Such an increase in demand usually indicates that the player with the most social media followers is drawing a lot of fans.

Angel is gonna have people watching this because there’s a large consortium of people who wants to see her succeed, there’s an even larger group of people who wants to see her fail, and they’re gonna watch to see her fail.

Draymond Green said

The Golden State Warriors forward said this after WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes mentioned on his namesake show that the ticket prices are proof that Angel Reese is the major draw this year. Green agreed, and then added that the Atlanta Dream forward’s critics will be out in full force.

They will be there to rejoice as they have whenever the Maryland native struggled in the past. However, both Draymond Green and Swoopes agreed that even though the reason is weird, it is good for the game.

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Carmelo Anthony defends Angel Reese’s on-court passion

Draymond Green has a point that many of Angel Reese‘s critics will be out to watch the 2026 WNBA Finals with the sole view of cheering if she fails. When discussing the Dream star on 7 PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony said this:

Angel Reese plays with a passion
Angel Reese plays with a passion (Image via Underdog/X)

It’s not antics, it’s passion… Some people take that in a different way.

Carmelo Anthony said

The Hall of Famer pointed out that if one knows how the 24-year-old grew up, they will know it is alright to show passion on the court. That fire is what pushes such athletes, and Reese is no different.

Anthony added that when Reese was struggling, every critic was out to get her. Now, after she dominated in the 2026 playoffs, the narratives are changing to the point where the same critics are changing their tune about her forays into fashion.

That should prove how opinions can change when on-court performance backs up a professional athlete’s first job. Anthony reiterated that Angel Reese has proven she can do both well after reaching the Finals.

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Angel Reese appreciates CJ McCollum handing her a new nickname

Before Angel Reese suits up to face the Golden State Valkyries, there has been a slight change to how people know her. When she was at LSU, she was christened Bayou Barbie. In Chicago, she was Chi-Barbie.

Now in Atlanta, naturally, she would be ATL-Barbie. But the 6’3″ forward never truly agreed to any recommendation. That changed once Hawks star CJ McCollum labeled her ‘Queen of the South.’

Shout out to CJ McCollum, I appreciate the love and support… It is really cool when your men’s team shows love to you… I guess that’s my new nickname – Queen of the South.

Angel Reese told the media

The newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year told reporters this could be her new nickname. After all, she has thrived and made the nickname into business opportunities in the past. If she wins her first WNBA championship, rest assured she will have opportunities lining up for her.

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