After the Atlanta Dream's hard-fought WNBA Finals run, Sophie Cunningham didn't hold back in evaluating what stands between star forward Angel Reese and a potential league MVP bid.
On her No Hesitation podcast with NBA skills trainer Drew Hanlen, Cunningham explained that Reese's ceiling hinges on one area of her offensive game: consistent touch and finishing on high-percentage layups around the rim. It's long been a topic in discussions of Reese's game, and it comes at a time when she's notably improved several key areas.
"We literally talked about this—she was killing it and she was literally looking like the MVP because of the consistency of her making her layups," Cunningham said. "She gets these shots all the time. She is tall. She is strong.
She gets these shots, but it's just if the focus is there to finish the shots. And that's always been the name of the game for her."
Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen discuss Angel Reese’s lack of finishing around the rim:
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) November 2, 2026
“Improving her touch around the rim is ultimately what’s going to lead her to being the player that she can become…”
(via @NoHesiShow) pic.twitter.com/3OtuDFltCq
Reese had an excellent playoff run and improved her game throughout her third WNBA season, but Cunningham isn't wrong that she should prioritize this aspect of her game in the offseason. However, if Reese improves here, building on her growth as a shooter and passer, she'll be poised for another huge step forward in 2026.
The 24-year-old forward averaged a double-double in the regular season (16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds) and the postseason (16.1 points and 11.0 rebounds). She also averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game over 12 playoff games and was a key reason the Dream made such an impressive run.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Sophie Cunningham bluntly said 1 thing keeps Angel Reese from reaching 'MVP' upside
