{
  "id": 14507202,
  "title": "Angel Reese trusted Karl Smesko to change her shot, and it’s paying off for WNBA Finals-bound Dream",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/angel-reese-trusted-karl-smesko-to-change-her-shot-and-its-paying-off",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T18:11:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/basketball/2026/10/14/angel-reese-trusted-karl-smesko-to-change-her-shot-and-its-paying-off-for-wnba-finals-bound-dream"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Angel Reese initially struggled with shooting from beyond the arc during her WNBA debut with the Atlanta Dream. Coach Karl Smesko, known for his focus on making teams shoot layups, 3-pointers, and free throws, recognized Reese's weakness and devised a plan to improve her shot. During practice, Smesko stopped a drill and insisted Reese make two consecutive 3-pointers. Despite initial reluctance, Reese eventually succeeded, and practice resumed.\n\nSmesko was confident that Reese's confidence would translate into better performance during actual games. This proved to be true, as Reese's shooting improved significantly. By the All-Star break, her 3-point shooting was at a 39% clip, and in the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty, she hit four 3-pointers in a crucial three-game series where the average margin of victory for Atlanta was just five points.\n\nSmesko emphasized that Reese's willingness to change her shot was crucial to her success. Without her openness to make significant changes, the improvement wouldn't have been possible. The coach and player continue to work together to refine her shot, and Smesko predicts that Reese could become a legitimate, consistent 3-point threat in the future. \"The sky's the limit,\" he stated, expressing excitement about Reese's potential to become an even more dominant offensive force in the league.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Angel Reese initially struggled with 3-point shooting during WNBA debut.",
    "Coach Karl Smesko devised plan to improve Reese's shot.",
    "Reese's 3-point shooting improved to 39% by All-Star break."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Angel Reese trusted Karl Smesko to change her shot, and it's paying off for WNBA Finals-bound Dream",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/angel-reese-trusted-karl-smesko-to-change-her-shot-and-its-paying-off-14508165",
        "published": "2026-10-14T18:10:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}