sports
Yaxel Lendeborg Mocks Angel Reese After Valkyries Win Title
The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a decisive seventh meeting on Saturday night, claiming the franchise's first WNBA championship, according to the New York Post. Valkyries forward Gabby Williams scored 30 points and grabbed three rebounds in that finale, a line that earned her the Finals MVP trophy, the Post reported.
How did the "too small" gesture start?
The move traces back to the series' third meeting, when Atlanta led 94-69 with 28.7 seconds on the clock, per the Post. Dream forward Angel Reese pinched her thumb and index finger together toward Golden State's bench, signaling the Valkyries were "too small" to keep up. A clip of the gesture spread on social media, including a post from the account @PolymarketHoops on X.
"Yaxel gave Angel Reese the 'too small' gesture during yesterday's game 😭" — @PolymarketHoops, Nov. 1, 2026
Four meetings later, when the final buzzer sounded on the title-deciding night, Valkyries forward Yaxel Lendeborg repeated Reese's gesture back toward the Dream's bench, the Post reported.
What did Angel Reese's two box scores show?
Reese's production moved in opposite directions across the two meetings cited by the Post. In the series' second meeting, she scored more than 25 points and collected more than 10 rebounds, becoming the first Atlanta player to clear both marks in a Finals appearance, per the outlet. In the decisive seventh meeting, Golden State's defense held her to eight points, though she still finished with 12 rebounds.
What are Yaxel Lendeborg's rookie numbers?
Lendeborg is averaging 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field in his first professional season, according to figures reported by the Post. Those numbers, paired with a trash-talking reputation the outlet says predates his debut, have made him one of the league's most-discussed newcomers. After the win, Lendeborg celebrated on the court with Bay Area rapper E-40, per Getty Images captions cited in the Post's coverage.
How does the 68-63 final compare to the blowout in Game 3?
The margin swung from a 25-point Atlanta lead with under 30 seconds left in the third meeting to a five-point Golden State win in the finale, a reversal the Post highlighted as the backdrop for Lendeborg's taunt. The Dream's title chase ended despite Reese's double-digit rebound total in the clincher.
What to watch next season
- Whether Reese and Lendeborg's exchange carries into next year's Golden State–Atlanta matchups.
- Whether Lendeborg's rookie averages — 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 48.2% shooting — hold up over a full season, per the Post's reported figures.
- Whether Gabby Williams, fresh off a 30-point Finals MVP outing, becomes Golden State's title-defense centerpiece.
All figures in this report are drawn from the New York Post's Nov. 1, 2026, account of the series.
Questions
Who won the 2026 WNBA Finals?
The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the series' seventh and deciding meeting, according to the New York Post, giving Golden State its first WNBA championship.
What did Angel Reese's gesture mean in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals?
Reese pinched her thumb and index finger together toward Golden State's bench during a blowout lead in the third meeting, signaling the Valkyries were 'too small,' per the Post.
What are Yaxel Lendeborg's rookie-season stats?
The Post reports Lendeborg is averaging 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field in his first professional season.