A Collegiate Reunion at State Farm Arena
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey made a notable courtside appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, traveling to State Farm Arena to support her former player, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, as reported by AOL. The matchup marked a high-stakes moment in the WNBA Finals as the Dream hosted the Golden State Valkyries in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 fans. Moving the contest from the team’s regular 3,500-seat home at Gateway Center Arena to downtown Atlanta accommodated surging local demand, creating an electric arena atmosphere.
Mulkey, widely recognized for avant-garde game-day attire featuring feathers and sparkles, opted for a more subdued look on Wednesday, pairing a brown jacket with cheetah print trousers. After the final buzzer sounded on a dominant 97-71 victory for Atlanta, Mulkey and Reese met on the floor for an emotional postgame embrace. The win propelled the Dream to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series, placing the franchise within reach of its first WNBA title since reaching the finals in 2013.
Reese’s Dominant On-Court Performance
Angel Reese anchored the Atlanta offense with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, delivering her second consecutive dominant performance of the championship round. According to reporting by AOL, Reese’s consistent paint presence helped the Dream set a franchise record for points scored in a WNBA Finals game. Five Atlanta players reached double figures as the team shot 49.3% from the field, thoroughly outpacing the Valkyries.
Reflecting on her collegiate mentor’s courtside presence, Reese noted in her postgame press conference that Mulkey offered direct encouragement throughout the evening. “She just kept telling me to just go get it,” Reese said. “Go get it. Don’t stop. And just two more. I won a championship with her and I remember how that felt. And being able to do it again with this group is going to feel even more special.” The reunion highlights a bond forged during Reese’s standout two-season run at LSU from 2022 to 2024, where she captured the 2023 NCAA national championship and earned Most Outstanding Player honors.
A Star-Studded Atmosphere in Downtown Atlanta
The high-profile matchup drew a massive celebrity presence to downtown Atlanta, reflecting the cultural momentum surrounding the franchise’s deep playoff run. As detailed by AOL, actress Kerry Washington and rappers 2Chainz and Lil Baby watched courtside. The evening’s entertainment also featured Q Parker of the Grammy-winning R&B group 112 performing the national anthem, alongside halftime performances by hip-hop artists T.I., Quavo, and Dem Franchize Boyz.
“When you can have at the end of a quarter a performance and then a timeout, another performance, you smell the chicken, you smell the fish,” Reese remarked regarding the vibrant venue atmosphere. “You don’t know who you’re going to see in here. Every celebrity that you want to see, Kerry Washington was in here.” The intense crowd energy fueled the Dream from the opening tip as the team established command of the series.
Playoff Context and Historical Foundation
Reese’s transition to the WNBA has continued to break statistical boundaries following her selection as the No. 7 overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA draft. After two seasons with Chicago resulting in consecutive All-Star appearances, Reese was traded to Atlanta in April 2026. She subsequently earned the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year honor and a first-team All-Defensive selection while leading the league in rebounds and establishing single-season records for total rebounds (521) and double-doubles (32).
Teammates have routinely pointed to Reese as the missing element that elevated Atlanta into genuine championship contenders. Building on her historic 30-point, 16-rebound performance in Game 2 at Chase Center, Reese and the Dream look to maintain their momentum as the series remains in Georgia. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday at State Farm Arena, prompting Reese to deliver a direct call to local supporters: “Saturday, y’all better run it back.”