'Terrible Look,' 'Post Her Stats' -- WNBA Fans Divided As Dream Star Angel Reese Called Out for 'Quitting' on Play, Throwing 'Tantrum' in Finals Game 2 Mohammad Faisal Tue, October 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angel Reese was nearly unstoppable against the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night. The Atlanta Dream star posted a game-high 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds, leading her squad to a 79-65 road win to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
However, one moment in the third quarter somewhat overshadowed her dominant performance. After being repeatedly overlooked for a pass, Reese appeared to give up on the play entirely. The moment sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some WNBA fans calling out the three-time All-Star, while others came to her defense.
Reese faced criticism for going scoreless in the second half of Game 1, which the Dream lost 68-64. The former Chicago Sky forward acknowledged afterward that she wasn't aggressive enough with the ball. That wasn't the case in Game 2, as she ripped through the Valkyries' defense and logged a monster double-double in the team's first-ever Finals win.
However, that energy turned into frustration during one instance in the third quarter when Reese was repeatedly denied a pass, as the 24-year-old appeared to quit the play altogether. BrickCenter posted a clip of the moment on X and captioned it :
"Angel Reese was [expletive] her teammates wouldn't pass her the ball and QUIT on the play."
The play happened with the score tied 40-40. Reese, pushing hard to maintain her position in the paint, was seen desperately asking for a pass that never came despite the ball changing hands three times. Frustrated, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year put her arms down and walked away.
Some WNBA fans weren't happy about Reese's reaction, but others pointed out that her efforts helped her team win and that's all that matters.
"Angel Reese started throwing a fit and stomping her feet when her teammates didn't pass her the ball. She GAVE UP MID PLAY," House of Lowlights quipped .
"Terrible look from Angel Reese, who started stomping her feet and quit on a play in the WNBA Finals because her teammates wouldn't pass her the ball. She literally just walked away mid-possession rather than get in position for an offensive rebound," OutKick's Dan Zaksheske blasted Reese before dubbing her behavior a "tantrum" in a follow-up post .
"How does someone root for this?" one Reese critic questioned .
"Imagine how the media and haters would lose their minds if Caitlin Clark pouted to her teammates and quit in the middle of the play. But never mind, it's Angel Reese during the WNBA Finals," a WNBA observer pointed out .
"Y'all be fishing for a negative Angel Reese post, she has more points and rebounds than anyone on the court," one Reese supporter posted , spotlighting her production that enabled the Dream to prevail.
"She's the best player on the team… of course she's [expletive]," another supporter reasoned .
"Post her stats so people know why," a third supporter wrote , pointing to Reese's 30-16-3 stat line.
MORE: 'Haters Are in Shambles,' 'Better Than Caitlin Clark' — WNBA Fans in Awe As Angel Reese Powers Dream to Historic Game 2 Win in Finals
Reese might have looked a bit overzealous in the moment, but overall, her two-way prowess was the ultimate game-changer for the Dream, who were desperate to avoid falling into a daunting 0-2 hole.
Besides, Reese also managed to make history in her second-ever Finals game. WNBA Communications celebrated Reese's historic production on X, writing , "Angel Reese becomes the youngest player to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in a WNBA postseason game. Reese joins Jonquel Jones, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson as the only players to achieve this milestone."
Game 3 is set for Wednesday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where Reese and the Dream will look to take a 2-1 series lead on their home court.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
Source: Sports
