Angel Reese’s shot, confidence and versatility already trending up in Atlanta

CHAMBLEE, GA ― Shot by shot,Angel Reeseis finding her comfort with theAtlanta Dream.

Reese has spent the first 10 days afterher introductory press conferenceon April 17 focusing on basketball. She's praised her teammates and the "electric" environment they've provided, making her acclimation to the team "seamless." Reese also shouted out second-year head coach Karl Smesko for his coaching and guidance, helping to improve her shot.

"We’ve been working a lot. Forty-five (degrees), straight — he’s very big on analytics — so he’s helped me a lot. I can see the improvement already from yesterday to today,"Reese said on April 20. "But it’s been great. It’s been seamless. Amazing. Picking up things on the fly … but it’s been a great adjustment.”

Reese said earlier this month that she wanted to be coached hard. Smesko appears to be delivering.

On Monday, the former Florida Gulf Coast women's basketball coach spoke to his team in a calm but firm voice that noticeably cut through the silence in the gym with booming authority. Smesko, with a whistle in hand and arms extended outward, demanded extra attention to detail and focus from every player on the court.

He pointed out mistakes ― the incorrect set, a pending shot clock violation or defensive effort he wasn't pleased with ― by making his team run things again or asking them to take the reins on pointing out where they went wrong.

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Smesko also heaped praise on his group when they did something well, and the team responded, including Reese, who kept up her intensity and communication throughout the portion of the practice open to the media. After practice, Reese smiled gleefully when asked about her first training camp under Smesko.

LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese drives around South Carolina's Laeticia Amihere in the second half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 12, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Purdue's Rickie Woltman dribbles under the net against Maryland's Angel Reese during the fourth quarter of an NCAA women's basketball game on Feb. 25, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Purdue's Nyagoa Gony goes up for a shot against Maryland's Angel Reese during the second quarter of an NCAA women's basketball game on Feb. 25, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maryland Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese and Angel Reese hug after their game against Northwestern at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2021.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iowa's Caitlin Clark and Maryland's Angel Reese react to a call during a Big Ten conference game on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maryland's Angel Reese flexes during an NCAA Big Ten conference game against Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maryland's Angel Reese celebrates after forcing a turnover against Iowa's Caitlin Clark during a Big Ten game on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maryland's Angel Reese and teammates celebrate after a Big Ten game against Iowa on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, 'Bayou Barbie' and Caitlin Clark rival

LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese drives around South Carolina's Laeticia Amihere in the second half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 12, 2023.

"My experience with Karl has been amazing. We work at it every day before practice ― about me shooting and keeping my shot on target and everything ― and I can tell the difference. Even my misses look like makes, and they're close enough," Reese said, laughing.

"He's been doing a lot of great things with me. He's sitting down individually (with me), but I appreciate him for holding me accountable every single possession, and always getting on me."

Still, Smesko, who commended Reese on her growth during her first Dream press conference, said Atlanta is the benefitting from having Reese on the team − not the other way around.

"Angel's gonna help us a lot more than us, a lot more than I'm going to help Angel. "She's such a talented player, and she's so great,"Smesko saidduring Reese's first week of practice.

"From defense to rebounding to handling the ball ― just being able to drive by people ― she just can do so many things. It's just being able to utilize her to what she does best and then just keep expanding her game where she feels more comfortable shooting it, catching it, shot-faking and taking it to the rim. Things of that nature. It'll be a process ... I do think that you'll see a lot of growth over the season just by her attitude and willingness to work to get better."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Angel Reese said she wants hard coaching — her shot is responding with Dream

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April 29, 2026

Angel Reese’s shot, confidence and versatility already trending up in Atlanta

CHAMBLEE, GA ― Shot by shot,Angel Reeseis finding her comfort with theAtlanta Dream. Reese has spent the first 10 days afterher in...

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Pat Riley isn't retiring, and says he still has eyes on another Heat title run

MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley had things to say.

No, he's not retiring. No, he's not resigning. No, he's not stepping aside as president of the Miami Heat. And no, the power dynamic at the top of the front office — managing general partner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison, Riley and executive vice president and general manager Andy Elisburg — hasn't changed much in his estimation, either.

At 81 — and steaming from a season in which the Heat missed the playoffs — Riley insisted Monday in his annual state-of-the-team session with reporters that he can still envision another championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard, just like he did when he first arrived in Miami 31 years ago.

“What is it that makes me want to do it? I love competition," Riley said. "I mean, I love this franchise, period. I love what we’ve built here over 30 years. You know, one day it will happen. Don’t think that I haven’t thought about it. I’m aging up, OK? I’m at 81 years old now. That’s aging up. I think Micky and Nick will decide whether or not I age out. But I love what I’m doing.”

Riley began his session with a statement, as is typical, and that's when he made clear that he's not interested in taking his nine NBA championship rings and Hall of Fame legacy and heading off into retirement.

The Heat have had largely the same front office for the majority of Riley's time in Miami; Nick Arison has been CEO since 2011, Micky Arison has owned the team for the entirety of Riley's stint, and Elisburg has been with the Heat in some capacity since even before its first game in 1988. It has been a collaborative and remains that way, and Riley seems more than fine with that.

Counting all games — regular season, playoffs and play-in — Miami has the fourth-best record in the NBA since Riley arrived in South Florida, behind only San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Oklahoma City (counting that franchise's Seattle days).

“I don’t have final say here," Riley said. “I never had it. Never had it when I came here. And quite frankly, I don’t think I want it.”

The brain trust, it seems, is united on this front: Miami wasn't good enough this season.

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The Heat have been in the play-in tournament in each of the last four years, going from there to the NBA Finals in 2023, but not getting out of the first round in the three seasons since. That's not good enough for anyone, himself included, Riley said.

“I hope things are different,” Riley said. “We're going to be very aggressive.”

Center Bam Adebayo — who had the 83-point game this season — turns 29 this summer and is going into his 10th season. Miami still wants to build around him, and knows how upset he was by a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in.

“I hope we can help Bam," Riley said. "He deserves more help. He just deserves to win more because he makes such a great effort. So, I don’t blame him for being frustrated.”

In other matters Riley discussed:

— Tyler Herro is having a preemptive surgery and should be on the court in a few weeks.

— The Heat are deep into the planning of a new training facility, though no deal has been announced.

— Speaking on the Terry Rozier situation — the former Heat guard is facing federal charges related to gambling — Riley indicated that he wasn't thrilled with the settlement that saw Charlotte send Miami a second-round pick this year. The Hornets got a first-rounder from Miami as part of the Rozier trade. “We didn’t negotiate that deal. The NBA did. ... That was not a very good situation," Riley said.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/nba

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April 29, 2026

Pat Riley isn't retiring, and says he still has eyes on another Heat title run

MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley had things to say. No, he's not retiring. No, he's not resigning. No, he's not stepping aside ...

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Josh Hart injury: Knicks forward bothered by a possible back injury

NEW YORK — TheNew York Knicksare one win away from the conference semifinals, but there might be an injury concern to watch.

Forward Josh Hart, 28, seemingly bothered by a possible back injury, left New York’s126-97Game 5 victoryover theAtlanta Hawkson Tuesday, April 28 in the fourth quarter and did not return to the bench.

After the game, Knicks coach Mike Brown did not have any information on Hart’s status, and a team public relations spokesperson indicated that the medical staff had not provided any information about a possible injury.

Hart appeared to suffer a back injury in the first half of Tuesday’s contest, though he remained in the game. Hart was officially subbed out with 6:27 left in the game, and he went through the tunnel and didn’t emerge for the rest of the game. The substitution might have been more precautionary, however, as the Knicks were up by 24 points when Hart left the game.

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Known for his grit, physical play and toughness, Hart has often played through minor issues, and he has become a key figure in New York’s title hopes. Throughout this series, he has served as a versatile defensive wing, alternating his assignments from game-to-game.

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Even if Hart is forced to miss some time, though, the Knicks still have excellent defensive wings in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. In fact, Brown has deployed Hart in a way that allows the Knicks to switch all pick-and-rolls, giving New York excellent matchup versatility on defense.

In 30:14 on the court Tuesday night, Hart scored 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Game 6 is scheduled forThursday, April 30in Atlanta, with the Knicks holding a 3-2 series lead. The Knicks are expected to issue their first injury report Wednesday, April 29, during the evening.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Knicks' Josh Hart leaves Game 5 win vs Hawks with possible back injury

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April 29, 2026

Josh Hart injury: Knicks forward bothered by a possible back injury

NEW YORK — TheNew York Knicksare one win away from the conference semifinals, but there might be an injury concern to watch. Forw...

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