Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese received her first technical foul of the 2026 WNBA playoffs during Game 2 of the first-round series against the Washington Mystics. The Dream secured a 93-75 victory on Wednesday, Sept. 30, sweeping the series and advancing to the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Reese contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two assists in the win.
The game was a physical battle, with a total of 53 personal fouls called—just four shy of the WNBA playoff record of 57. Reese picked up four personal fouls herself. Late in the fourth quarter, with 4:08 left, Reese blocked a shot by Mystics forward Michaela Onyenwere for the third time but then exchanged words after Onyenwere knocked the ball from her hands, resulting in a technical foul for taunting.
Reese had accumulated seven technical fouls during the regular season but avoided a suspension by staying under the league’s eight-technical foul threshold; however, that count resets heading into the postseason.
With this win, the fourth-seeded Dream will face the eighth-seeded New York Liberty in the semifinals, which will be a best-of-five series (2-2-1). Atlanta will hold home-court advantage over New York, who advanced by sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.
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Fan Take: Angel Reese’s fiery competitiveness is a game-changer for the Dream’s playoff run and a sign of the high intensity fans can expect in the semifinals. This moment highlights the rising passion and physicality in the WNBA, which only elevates the league’s profile and fan engagement moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
