WNBA: Angel Reese stars as Atlanta Dream win first Finals match with victory against Golden State Valkyries

“I let my team down last game, not really contributing as much as I could in the second half,” said Reese.

“I just wanted to make sure I came out tonight and left my mark. And I think I did that.

“I was hungry, I think we let one slip away [on Saturday]. You can’t do that. We felt disappointed, we felt embarrassed.

“I walked off the court not feeling like myself, and I wanted to make sure that, this game, I did everything I could do to walk off the court and feel like who I am.”

The Dream had previously had a record of zero wins and 10 defeats in the Finals, following 3-0 series defeats in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

After two matches in California, the best-of-seven series now switches to Atlanta, where games three and four will be played on Thursday, 22 October and Saturday, 24 October.