Angel Reese's coach explains what happened to her in the locker room after the hit from Sabrina Ionescu
Reese was cleared by medical staff, but the Dream chose not to risk its star forward before the playoffs
Angel Reese’s status became an immediate concern Wednesday night after the Atlanta Dream forward took a blow to the face during the regular-season finale against the New York Liberty.
With 5.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Reese was defending Sabrina Ionescu when the Liberty guard’s arm caught her in the face. The officials initially called an offensive foul on Ionescu, but a replay review upgraded the ruling to a Flagrant 1.
Reese immediately headed to the locker room for evaluation, leaving teammates and fans wondering whether the injury could affect her ahead of the playoffs. She eventually returned to the court to take the two free throws awarded on the play before heading back to the locker room.
However, the situation wasn’t as serious as it may have initially appeared.
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko offered a reassuring update after the Dream completed an 83-65 victory over New York. According to Smesko , Reese had been medically cleared to return to action. The coaching staff simply decided that there was little reason to put her back on the floor with the postseason approaching.
Reese was cleared, but Atlanta chose caution
“She was cleared, but we made a decision that it would be smart for her to sit out the second half,” Smesko said after the game.
Reese wasn’t on the bench when the third quarter began, as she remained in the locker room for the opening minutes. She eventually returned to the bench with 6:19 remaining in the period and watched the remainder of the game from the sideline.
Before leaving, Reese had recorded six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. Atlanta, meanwhile, had built a 41-26 halftime advantage and managed to maintain control without its star forward.
The victory was particularly important for the Dream because it secured the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Atlanta finished the regular season 31-13, while New York ended the campaign as the No. 8 seed.
The victory also marks an important milestone for Reese . She’ll enter the postseason for the first time in her WNBA career after missing the playoffs during her two seasons with the Chicago Sky.
Her 2026 campaign has been among the most productive of her young career. Reese averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while adding 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals. She also recorded 32 double-doubles during the regular season.
With the Dream now preparing for the playoffs, Reese’s health will naturally be a major storyline. The fact that she was cleared to return provides some reassurance, while Smesko’s decision to keep her out shows that Atlanta wasn’t willing to take an unnecessary chance in a game that no longer required Reese to play.
Now, the focus shifts toward making sure Reese’s ready when Atlanta begins its postseason run.
