‘Classless’: WNBA fans slam Angel Reese after controversial post-game gesture to Mystics

Angel Reese is facing criticism from WNBA fans after appearing to wave goodbye to the Washington Mystics following Atlanta Dream’s playoff-clinching victory on Wednesday night.

Atlanta completed a 2-0 first-round sweep with a 93-75 win in Washington, securing its first semifinal appearance since 2018. Reese played an important role in the victory, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks while shooting 50% from the field.

Yet the attention quickly shifted from the Dream’s dominant performance to the moments immediately after the final buzzer. Reese and Allisha Gray were seen waving toward the Mystics as Washington’s season came to an end, a gesture that some fans interpreted as taunting the defeated team.

Veteran teammate DeWanna Bonner appeared to step in and stop the moment from going further. The 39-year-old forward was filmed lowering the players’ hands back toward their sides, seemingly signaling that the gesture should end.

Bonner’s intervention drew considerable praise from fans, with many viewing it as an example of veteran leadership and sportsmanship. Some supporters argued that her experience could prove valuable as Atlanta enters the deeper stages of the postseason.

The reaction to Reese , however, was considerably harsher. Several fans described the gesture as “classless” and disrespectful, while others questioned why the players would wave goodbye to an opponent immediately after eliminating them.

The controversy came after Reese had delivered a strong performance in her first WNBA playoff series. She opened the postseason with a double-double before producing a more efficient outing in Game 2. She also helped limit Washington center Shakira Austin to nine points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Reese has previously spoken about the importance of Atlanta controlling its emotions during games, making the post-game incident particularly notable.

“Our memo was to manage emotions better and value possessions more, and that’s what we did the entire time,” Reese said after the victory. “We’ve stayed dialed in all year.”

Reese and Dream now face a tougher semifinal test

Atlanta’s reward for eliminating Washington is a semifinal matchup with the New York Liberty, who swept the Minnesota Lynx in the opening round.

The Liberty could provide a significantly different challenge, particularly because of their combination of size, experience and postseason pedigree. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones give New York a formidable presence around the basket, while Sabrina Ionescu provides another major threat from the perimeter.

Reese has already shown she can make an impact against New York. She recorded 25 points and nine rebounds in a June meeting and later posted 18 points and 10 rebounds during Atlanta’s September victory over the Liberty.

The Dream also won two of their three regular-season meetings with New York, although playoff basketball brings a different level of pressure.

The immediate focus for Reese will now be on helping Atlanta continue its postseason run. The social-media controversy may dominate the conversation temporarily, but the Dream’s next challenge will be decided on the court.

With the Liberty standing between Atlanta and a place in the WNBA Finals, Reese and her teammates won't have much time to dwell on the events following their series-clinching win.