Breanna Stewart and Angel Reese appeared to work well together during their gold-medal win at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. But any of that support was apparently lost the instant the two went back to their WNBA teams.
Reese and Stewart found themselves at the center of a contentious moment during Monday’s game between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty, one that Stewart decided to escalate after the contest.
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The issue stemmed from a missing foul call on Reese with just under two minutes to play. With the Liberty down by eight, Stewart stopped a drive to the lane to try for a pull-up jumper. Reese knocked the ball away, stealing it to give the Dream possession.
Since it was so late in the contest, Reese was immediately fouled, and Stewart decided to tear into the refs, claiming she was fouled by Reese.
But Stewart took her criticism way too far, and was hit with a technical foul.
Upon looking at the replay, Stewart appeared to have a point.
Stewart didn’t get her way during the game. Reese hit both free throws and the Dream went on to win the contest 95-84.
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But time apparently didn’t heal all wounds in this case. Stewart was still hot after the game, telling reporters Reese “slapped [the] s*** out of my hand” on the play. As Stewart left the end-of-game presser, she yelled out, “Angel should pay my fine.”
This is mostly uncharted territory for Stewart, who — prior to Monday — last received a technical foul back in 2017, her second year in the league, per ESPN. Reese is already far more accomplished in that area, and is — like Caitlin Clark — sitting on seven technical fouls this season.
Given that, Reese probably shouldn’t be expected to spend more money paying for technical fouls, especially ones that weren’t called on her.
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As for Stewart, she could have a chance to get revenge in the playoffs. Should the two teams meet in the postseason, Stewart could send Reese home early, which would more than make up for Stewart paying her own technical-foul fine.
Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, technical foul, Atlanta Dream
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