Angel Reese’s return to the Atlanta Dream rotation was marked with a feisty welcome at the Gateway Center against the LA Sparks. While Reese made her comeback game special with yet another double-double, her sideline tussles with a fan also drew attention, and one moment stood out in particular.
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The incident occurred in the dying seconds of the game when the Atlanta Dream was ahead 101-92. Reese approached the sidelines and made a ‘call me’ gesture to one of the fans.
“It was somebody talking s— on the sideline,” Reese replied when asked who that gesture was for during the post-match interview. However, Reese didn’t give any details about what exactly the fan said.
It wasn’t the first time in the game that Reese exchanged words with a fan at the Sparks game. Another such moment occurred with less than five minutes left in the 4th quarter and the score tied at 87-87.
Jordin Canada drove near the paint and found Angel Reese on the perimeter. Reese took a shot from beyond the arc and connected the 23-foot 3-pointer to give her team a lead. She followed it up with an aggressive verbal gesture towards a section of the sidelines.
These moments have been a staple of Reese’s game throughout this season. In a game against the Dallas Wings earlier this season, in May, Reese even made a “too small” gesture at the fans. It came after the fans consistently booed her during the game at the College Park Center.
Nevertheless, these sideline hecklers didn’t ruin Angel Reese’s on-court performance on Monday. The Bayou Barbie led the night for Atlanta with 23 points, shooting 7 of 11 from the field. She also contributed 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.
Reese’s 3-pointer late in Q4 was central to the team’s success in extending its lead over the LA Sparks. Following the game, Reese shed light on this stellar performance while also highlighting the atmosphere in the arena.
“It felt good,” Reese said in her post-game interview. “I just wanted to do whatever it takes to get a win. I’m happy I felt good, and the environment was crazy. I felt like I was back home in Baltimore. My family was here, and the culture was amazing.”
Behind Reese, Allisha Gray (20), Jordin Canada (16) and Rhyne Howard (11) also scored in double figures. With this win, the Atlanta Dream have now won two of their last three games. That one 102-92 loss came against the Portland Fire, and Reese was absent during the game.
Atlanta is 14-10, with their next game scheduled against the Toronto Tempo at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.