WNBA to Announce Punishment Decision After Angel Reese Incident

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

WNBA to Announce Punishment Decision After Angel Reese Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Sep 23, 2026 9:40 PM ET

Superstar forward Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream had a big opportunity on Wednesday night, as they looked to clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs with a victory against Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty.

The Dream came into the day sitting in fourth place in the league standings with a 29-14 record, while the Liberty sat in eighth with a record of 26-17.

While the battle for playoff seeding was the biggest storyline going into the matchup, the game quickly turned into something much different, as Reese headed to the locker room after taking a hard foul at the end of the first half.

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after getting fouled in the second quarter against the New York Liberty.Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

With only 5.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Ionescu was assessed a flagrant foul type 1 for hitting Reese in the face with her forearm, while dribbling with her other hand.

After Reese made both free throws from the flagrant foul, she went to the locker room before halftime.

Angel Reese headed to the locker room after this play.

Sabrina Ionescu was assessed a Flagrant 1. pic.twitter.com/BUpWfJiRqE
— espnW (@espnW) September 24, 2026

According to Front Office Sports on X, players are automatically fined by the WNBA for flagrant fouls, as they are subject to pay a $500 fine for a Flagrant 1 and $1,000 for a Flagrant 2. This means that Ionescu will receive one of these $500 fines from the league for her foul on Reese.

To begin the second half, DeWanna Bonner started in place of Reese. However, early in the third quarter, Reese returned to the Dream’s bench, as she emerged from the locker room.

Helped by six points from Reese before getting injured, the Dream had a big lead on the Liberty, as they looked to secure their first-round home-court advantage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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