A physical fourth-quarter battle between Brittney Griner and Angel Reese quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the Commissioner’s Cup matchup, as Griner was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul after sending Reese to the floor during a rebound battle in the Atlanta Dream’s 91-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
According to Fox News, the play unfolded with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. As Reese fought for position under the basket, Griner’s left arm made contact with Reese around the neck area while both players pursued a rebound. Reese fell hard to the court, prompting officials to stop play and review the sequence.
After the review, referees upgraded the contact to a Flagrant 1 foul. Under the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the penalty also triggered a $500 fine for Griner.
Despite the intensity of the moment, the incident did not escalate. Griner immediately offered Reese a hand up following the foul, and Reese remained in the game. The Dream forward converted one of two free throws after the review and continued helping Atlanta close out the win.
The matchup also carried an extra layer of intrigue because of Griner’s recent connection to Atlanta. The 10-time All-Star spent last season with the Dream before signing with Connecticut ahead of the Sun’s planned move to Houston.
When Reese arrived in Atlanta during the offseason, Griner publicly welcomed her to the organization, creating expectations that the two could eventually share a frontcourt.
While the foul drew headlines, Atlanta’s performance ultimately shaped the outcome. Reese finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for another double-double, continuing her strong start to the season.
Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 36 points, while Griner contributed seven points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals for Connecticut.
