Reese keeps pregame handshake ritual going in Finals

Game 3 tips at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 42m1 min read

The handshake in question by Angel and Karl 🤝 https://t.co/3odjDjPZCy Via @WNBA on X

What happened: Angel Reese continued her pregame handshake with Karl Smesko during the 2026 WNBA Finals. The Finals pair Atlanta against the Valkyries in Game 3, with the same routine kept through the Finals.

Why it matters: Reese won 2026 Defensive Player of the Year after the trade from Chicago. Atlanta sits one win from its first Finals appearance since 2013.

What to watch: The Game 3 result sets the series turn before the teams meet again.

Sources

@WNBA 2026-10-21T22:54:10.006966+00:00

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