Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream closed the regular season with a convincing 83-65 win over the New York Liberty. However, the WNBA All-Star forward didn’t get to dominate after exiting the contest early due to an injury.
Reese took an elbow to the face from Sabrina Ionescu in the second quarter, a play that was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 foul. The Dream star was able to shoot a pair of free throws following the incident, but she did not play again. She finished with six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in almost 17 minutes on the court.
Despite leaving the game early, Dream head coach Karl Smesko gave a positive update about the 24-year-old forward. Reese was apparently cleared by medical personnel to return, but Smesko decided to keep her out of the second half to avoid risking a more serious injury.
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
After the game, Reese appeared to be in good spirits as well. In fact, she was seen meeting up with Teresa Weatherspoon on the court and hugging her.
The exchange followed Reese’s earlier tunnel tribute for the former Chicago Sky coach.
Weatherspoon coached Reese during her rookie season in 2024 with the Sky. Reese has repeatedly credited her former coach with believing in her early and helping her navigate the adjustment from college to the pros.
“I can’t speak for anybody else, but I think you came into my life for the right reason and the right season, and we forever locked in. I’m just so thankful that it was that right time. It was the perfect time,” Reese told Weatherspoon during a conversation on the Dream star’s podcast in January.
