The Atlanta Dream locked horns with the Portland Fire on Friday, but the night ended with another loss as they fell 101-83. Angel Reese was once again the talk of the town after recording another double-double, but attention quickly shifted away from her performance to a potential one-game suspension looming over the Dream’s upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Lynx.
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With 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Double-Double Barbie appeared to shove the Fire’s Carla Leite while the two were battling for position in the lane. The officials immediately whistled for a technical foul, handing Reese her eighth tech of the season, as per an X post by Underdog WNBA.
Under WNBA rules, reaching eight technical fouls results in a $1,500 fine and an automatic one-game suspension unless the league rescinds the call. And that puts Angel Reese in a difficult spot. However, Dream head coach Karl Smesko believes the call will be overturned, as he stated at the Atlanta Dream postgame presser on August 28.
“I’m sure that we’ll appeal it. From my vantage point, it didn’t look like something that was tech worthy, so hopefully it’ll be rescinded. But I haven’t had the benefit of watching it on film yet or anything like that. But I think that’s probably something that we’re going to try to get rescinded,” he said during the post-game interview.
If the call stands, Reese will become the first player this season to serve the punishment after reaching the eight-tech threshold. Her rival Caitlin Clark recorded eight technical fouls before her, but the league later rescinded the call against her, saving the Indiana Fever star from both the fine and suspension. So, while the Dream have already secured their spot in the playoffs, Friday was hardly the kind of night they would have wanted. Yet, not everything that came out of the game was bad for Angel Reese.
The 24-year-old finished the night with 16 points and 16 rebounds, which marked her 28th double-double of the season. That tied her with Alyssa Thomas for the WNBA’s single-season record, adding another historic achievement to an already impressive résumé. And that milestone did not go unnoticed.
Shortly after Reese tied the record, the WNBA highlighted the achievement on its social media, sharing, “🚨 28 AND COUNTING 🚨.” The NBA also took to X to repost the WNBA post and congratulate the Dream star, writing, “Congrats, @Reese10Angel 👏.”
It was a fitting acknowledgment for a player who has continued to make the double-double almost routine this season. However, Angel Reese may now have to wait before getting another opportunity to break the record outright.
So for now, all eyes will be on whether the WNBA rescinds Reese’s technical foul before Sunday’s game against the No. 1-ranked Minnesota Lynx, led by Olivia Miles, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier.