Angel Reese will not serve a one-game suspension after the WNBA rescinded the technical foul she received Friday night against the Portland Fire.
The Atlanta Dream star appeared to be facing an automatic one-game suspension after being assessed her eighth technical foul of the 2026 regular season.
However, the league reviewed the play and rescinded the technical, allowing Reese to remain eligible for Atlanta’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. The Associated Press reported that the decision came only a few hours after Friday night’s game.
The incident occurred during the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 101-83 loss to Portland.
Reese became tangled with Portland forward Carla Leite while attempting to establish position in the paint. After Rhyne Howard knocked down a 3-pointer, Reese pushed herself free from the contact and was assessed a technical foul.
Reese immediately protested the call.
Had the technical remained on her record, it would have been her eighth of the season and triggered an automatic one-game suspension under the WNBA’s technical-foul rules.
Instead, the rescission keeps Reese at seven technical fouls and allows her to remain on the floor as Atlanta continues its push toward the playoffs.
Reese Avoids Suspension at Crucial Time
The timing of the ruling was particularly significant for Atlanta.
The Dream were scheduled to face the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, making Reese’s availability especially important as Atlanta battles for playoff positioning.
Reese finished the loss to Portland with 16 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, despite shooting 5-for-14 from the field.
The technical-foul controversy also came during a historic stretch for Reese.
Earlier in the same game, she recorded her 28th double-double of the season, tying Alyssa Thomas for the WNBA’s single-season record at the time.
Reese would later break that record Sunday, recording her 29th double-double of the season against Minnesota to establish a new WNBA single-season mark.
A Familiar Situation in the WNBA
Reese is not the only star who has benefited from a rescinded eighth technical foul this season.
Earlier in August, the WNBA rescinded a technical foul assessed to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, also preventing an automatic one-game suspension.
The two situations have added another layer to an already intense 2026 WNBA season, particularly as both Reese and Clark continue to draw significant attention on and off the court.
For Reese, however, the immediate takeaway is simple: she avoided suspension and remained available when Atlanta needed her most.
And she made the most of it.
Just one day after the technical was rescinded, Reese helped the Dream defeat Minnesota 89-81 while making WNBA history with her 29th double-double of the season.
The 2026 season continues to be a historic one for Reese, and the latest ruling ensures she can continue adding to it.
