Sophie Cunningham Defends Angel Reese's Frustrated Body Language in WNBA Finals

Sophie Cunningham has defended Angel Reese's visible frustration during Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, saying the moment sent a message that Atlanta needed to hear. Cunningham made the comments on the latest episode of her No Hesitation podcast, as the Dream looked to recover from a 1-0 deficit against the Golden State Valkyries.

A frustrated moment in the third quarter

The incident came in the third quarter, with about 7:08 left on the clock. Reese was fighting for post position against Kayla Thornton and calling for the ball. Naz Hillmon held it at the three-point line and Reese kept waving for it, but the ball went to Allisha Gray, who shot a three.

Reese stomped her feet, threw her hands down and walked out of the paint, away from the play. Her body language was easy to notice, and it drew attention across the league.

Cunningham's view on the body language

Cunningham acknowledged that Reese's body language could have been better. "Do I think that it could have been better? Absolutely," she said on her podcast. She added that Reese herself might agree if she watched the clip back.

Cunningham argued that the frustration served a purpose. "If your team's not getting you the damn ball, then if you see one of your star players getting frustrated," she said, the coaching staff and bench would have noticed and the team would have felt the energy. She also said that many players in the WNBA and NBA have similar clips.

Response on the court

The team appeared to respond quickly. Reese drove hard for a layup on the very next possession and kept her intensity up for the rest of the game. Later in the third quarter, she was seen walking back to the Atlanta bench fired up after finishing at the cup.

Reese finished Game 2 with 30 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. In Game 3, she led the Dream with 21 points and 12 rebounds, giving Atlanta a 2-1 series lead.

Coach praises Reese's growth

Dream head coach Karl Smesko praised Reese for her development during the season. "She very well might be the most improved player from the beginning of the season to right now," Smesko said. He also credited her work ethic and said her motivation had produced visible results.

What we know so far

The Dream have taken a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals, and Game 4 against the Valkyries is next. It is not yet clear whether Reese will continue the expressive body language seen in Game 2 or whether her communication with teammates will change that approach.