The competitive fire that makes Angel Reese one of the WNBA's most compelling players may have burned a little too hot on Saturday night.
In the first professional meeting between Reese and her former LSU teammate Flau'jae Johnson, the Seattle Storm guard dropped 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting to lead her team to a 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Dream. But the postgame moment that had fans buzzing wasn't about the stat sheet—it was about what happened in the final minute.
With just over a minute left on the clock and the outcome all but decided, Johnson began celebrating with her Storm teammates. She then extended a handshake toward Reese, who was making her way back to the Dream huddle. Instead of returning the gesture, Reese walked right by, leaving Johnson to shrug her shoulders before continuing the celebration.
The exchange was captured on video and quickly went viral, with many accusing Reese of being a sore loser. Social media lit up with comments like “Tough look…” and “Angel Reese is the worst.” One fan wrote, “Got cooked for 3 games straight and forgot her sportsmanship at home. Typical AR stuff.”
Reese did have a solid individual performance, posting 17 points and 9 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to stop Atlanta from dropping its third straight game. The Dream will look to bounce back on July 2 against the Washington Mystics.
This isn't the first time Reese's on-court demeanor has drawn scrutiny. Her intense style has made her a fan favorite and a lightning rod for criticism, often sparking debates about sportsmanship in women's basketball. The handshake snub adds another chapter to that ongoing conversation.
For Johnson, the moment seemed more confusing than confrontational. After the game, she didn't address the incident directly, but her body language on the court suggested she was caught off guard by Reese's reaction. The two were celebrated teammates at LSU, where they helped lead the Tigers to a national championship in 2023, so the cold shoulder stung for many fans who remember their on-court chemistry.
As the WNBA season heats up, this moment is likely to fuel the rivalry narrative between two of the league's most exciting young players. Whether it was just a competitive heat-of-the-moment reaction or something more remains to be seen, but for now, the internet has made its verdict.
The Dream will have a chance to turn things around next week, but they'll need more than just Reese's scoring to break their losing streak. With the playoffs still a distant goal, every game—and every interaction—matters.
