Reese and Smesko stick with pregame handshake in Finals

Ritual continues into Game 2 at 8 p.m. ET

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

That coach and player bond 🤣 Angel Reese and Karl Smesko share a handshake before every game, and this is how it all st Via @WNBA on X

What happened: Angel Reese and Karl Smesko went through their every-game handshake during the 2026 WNBA Finals. The routine has stayed intact through the championship round.

Why it matters: Reese entered the series as the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. Atlanta is playing in its first Finals since 2013.

What to watch: Game 2 tips at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Sources

@WNBA 2026-10-19T19:28:26.692385+00:00

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