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Actions Over Words: How Karl Smesko Earned Angel Reese's Total Dedication

Angel Reese’s journey to the WNBA Finals has been defined by resilience and a relentless work ethic, but her path to this year’s championship run required confronting a long-standing weakness. The Atlanta Dream forward, known for her dominance inside the paint, has spent the season refining her three-point shooting—a skill that had long been her Achilles’ heel.

Head coach Karl Smesko recognized the need for improvement and pushed Reese to elevate her game beyond the arc, a process that reportedly left her feeling uncomfortable but ultimately transformed her into a more versatile threat. Reese’s dedication paid off as the Dream secured their first Finals appearance since 2013, culminating in a sweep of the New York Liberty, a team Reese had previously played for under coach Teresa Weatherspoon during her rookie season in Chicago.

Nearly a year after publicly declaring she would ‘manifest’ a Finals run, Reese’s persistence and Smesko’s strategic focus on her development have turned skepticism into validation, with critics now acknowledging her pivotal role in Atlanta’s historic season.

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