🚨 WNBA SCARE: ANGEL REESE TAKES AN ELBOW TO THE FACE — SABRINA IONESCU ASSESSED A FLAGRANT 1 AS REESE HEADS TO THE LOCKER ROOM 😳🏀
Angel Reese took an elbow to the face during a tense moment late in the first half, immediately creating concern around the Atlanta Dream star.
Sabrina Ionescu was charged with a Flagrant 1 after officials reviewed the contact.
Despite the painful-looking sequence, Reese returned to the floor long enough to make both flagrant free throws before heading back to the locker room just before halftime.
The frightening sequence unfolded with only 5.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s matchup against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Wednesday night. Reese was defending Ionescu as the Liberty guard attempted to make a move with the basketball. During the play, Ionescu’s arm made contact with Reese’s face.
Reese immediately reacted to the contact and left the court, creating an anxious scene with halftime only seconds away.
Officials initially called an offensive foul against Ionescu. After reviewing the play, however, they upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1 because of the contact to Reese’s face.
Reese had already headed toward the locker room, but she returned to the court to take the two free throws awarded following the review.
And she calmly knocked down both.
It was a brief but important appearance. After converting the free throws, Reese returned to the locker room for further evaluation as Atlanta carried a 41-26 advantage into halftime. At that point, Reese had recorded six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes.
Her absence at the beginning of the third quarter naturally raised questions about her condition.
Reese wasn’t on Atlanta’s bench when the second half began, and DeWanna Bonner took her place. But there was eventually an encouraging development: Reese returned to the bench with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter. She did not re-enter the game.
After the game, Dream head coach Karl Smesko provided the update Atlanta supporters wanted to hear.
According to Smesko, Reese had been cleared to return, but Atlanta decided there was no reason to expose her to additional contact with the playoffs approaching. The coaching staff chose to keep her out for the remainder of the night as a precaution.
That update dramatically changed the tone surrounding what initially looked like a potentially significant injury scare.
Instead of forcing Reese back into action, Atlanta could afford to be cautious — especially considering what was at stake beyond a single regular-season game.
The Dream went on to defeat the Liberty 83-65, completing the regular season with a 30-14 record and securing the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Reese’s value to Atlanta makes protecting her particularly important as postseason basketball begins.
Even though her offensive numbers were modest before she exited, she was contributing throughout the game. Reese finished with six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in her 17 minutes on the floor.
The incident also generated immediate discussion about Ionescu’s Flagrant 1.
Video of the play showed Ionescu attempting to operate with the ball while Reese pressured her defensively. As the two players came together, Ionescu’s arm caught Reese across the face. Reports described the contact as inadvertent, but officials determined after replay review that it met the standard for a Flagrant 1.
Regardless of the debate surrounding the call, attention quickly shifted toward Reese’s condition.
With postseason basketball approaching, Atlanta can hardly afford to lose one of its most influential players.
That’s why seeing Reese return to the bench later in the third quarter was an encouraging sight.
And Smesko’s confirmation that she had been cleared was even more significant.
The Dream ultimately didn’t need to take any unnecessary chances. Atlanta controlled the game, secured the victory and accomplished its larger objective of earning home-court advantage.
For Reese, the night ended much earlier than expected.
But after a sequence that initially caused plenty of concern, the postgame update offered Atlanta fans reason for optimism.
She took the contact.
She returned to make both free throws.
She underwent evaluation.
And most importantly, she was cleared.
Now, with the regular season complete, the focus shifts toward the playoffs — where Atlanta will hope Reese is ready to return at full strength.
One frightening moment changed the atmosphere inside Barclays Center in seconds.
Fortunately for Angel Reese and the Dream, the early indications afterward were considerably more reassuring than the initial scene suggested. 🏀❤️