Two obvious fouls by Angel Reese went uncalled during a pivotal WNBA Finals moment as referees allowed her to escape. That is the blunt assessment from a WNBA reporter, who watched the Atlanta Dream drop Game 1 to the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday. The game ended with a 68-64 score, but the conversation has shifted entirely to the officials who missed two major infractions by the Dream star. These plays happened back-to-back in the second half, and neither resulted in a foul or even a review.
Two Missed Calls Spark Fury
The first incident occurred when Reese was pushing the ball up the court. She spun to protect the ball from Gabby Williams and hit Williams right in the face with her elbow. The second play happened on the very next possession. Reese ran up behind Veronica Burton, who was attempting a layup, and blocked the shot by hitting Burton in the face. Burton went straight to the floor from the impact. According to Yahoo Sports, the officials neither reviewed these incidents nor flagged either one as a foul. This inconsistency is what fans are talking about most right now.
Reese finished the night with a double-double, logging 11 points and 12 rebounds. Yet, her physical aggression in the second half drew heavy criticism. Following a promising beginning, she failed to score any baskets across the last three quarters, showing offensive struggles. Her five fouls for the game did not include the two major hits that the reporter flagged as obvious mistakes by the crew.
Reese Owns the Missed Shot
While the officiating debate rages, Reese has already looked at her own game tape. She denied that the Golden State defense knocked her off course during her quiet second half. For the upcoming game, she acknowledged the necessity of improving her performance in that specific area. The Dream lost their first postseason game, ending a streak of wins, but they are not out of the series yet.
A Pattern of Physical Play
This is not a new controversy for the Atlanta forward. During the semifinals sweep of the New York Liberty, Reese raised her hand to contest a shot and hit Breanna Stewart, sending her to the floor. The referees reviewed that play and determined there was no hostile act, letting Reese off without punishment. Now, the league is watching closely as the Finals continue. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points to secure the win, while Allisha Gray added 19 points for Atlanta. The Dream have never won a Finals game in their history, and this loss extends their losing streak to 10 straight games in the championship series. Game 2 is set for Monday night in San Francisco, where the pressure will be even higher.