Angel Reese suspended for 1 game after 8th technical foul

The update

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese received her eighth technical foul during Friday’s 101-83 loss to the Portland Fire. Under WNBA rules, this triggers an automatic one-game suspension without pay. Reese will miss the team’s matchup against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday unless the league rescinds the technical. The Dream are appealing the call, which occurred with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter when Reese got tangled up with Portland guard Carla Leite during a box-out situation.

Why it matters

The suspension would be a significant blow for the Dream, who are currently fighting for a top-four playoff seed. Reese is one of the league’s premier rebounders and a key player in Atlanta’s rotation. This marks the second consecutive season Reese has reached the technical foul threshold for suspension, having led the league in technicals last season with eight.

What to watch

Will the Dream successfully appeal the technical foul? How will Atlanta adjust to playing without Reese against the top-seeded Lynx? Who will step up to fill the rebounding void? Technical foul counts reset after the regular season, so any additional technicals would carry over to the playoffs. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has also been called for eight technicals but had her most recent one rescinded.

Sources

• cbssports.com — Details on the technical foul and league suspension policy
• The Athletic — Information about the Dream's appeal process