We Speak Sports

Vanie Gandler Is Building Something New at Capital1

The former Cignal MVP is trading instant stardom for something bigger: helping build Capital1 into a winner, one five-set test at a time.

Published

9 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Vanie Gandler Is Building Something New at Capital1

Vanie Gandler arrived at Capital1 with the credentials of a Most Valuable Player and the experience of a proven scorer. What she did not arrive with was a finished product, and the 25-year-old outside hitter is the first to say so.

The former Cignal star moved to the Solar Spikers in May alongside fellow MVP Erika Santos after Cignal disbanded its roster at the end of last season. Rather than simply bringing her scoring to a new team, the Ateneo product wanted to help build something from the ground up in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab series.

“It’s okay so far. I think I’ve seen so much progress with our connection throughout the games. I was struggling at the start, but then we really always make sure to communicate,” Gandler said. “I’m being patient with it. We’re all being patient with our connection because we know that it’s really a process, and we can’t force it.”

Playing alongside Bella Belen has helped. While Gandler finds her rhythm and her role, Belen’s relentless production, including a career-best 35 points against Akari and 29 more against ZUS Coffee, has held the ground. “I’m very grateful, of course, that Bella’s able to hold our ground while I’m still trying to find my rhythm,” Gandler said. “Bella’s ever reliable, so we’re very grateful to have her.”

The early returns suggest the patience is paying off. Capital1 opened the conference with three straight five-set matches and won the last two, capped by Tuesday’s comeback against ZUS Coffee in which Gandler scored in double figures in just three sets and joined Belen on the 7-1 fifth-set run that closed the match. “It’s good that our team is being exposed to these high-pressure moments this early on, especially this early on in our journey together as this core,” she said. “Of course, what’s important is that we win.”

Photo: PVL (Gandler in Capital1’s Oct. 20 match against ZUS Coffee)

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Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.