Sports

WNBA to Punish Brittney Griner After Flagrant Foul on Angel Reese

Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner will be opening her wallet after delivering a hard foul on Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese.

The WNBA is set to fine Griner following the flagrant foul in Atlanta's 91-75 Commissioner's Cup win over Connecticut at Gateway Center Arena on Tuesday.

With 7:43 left in the fourth quarter, Griner and Reese battled for a rebound. Griner's arm caught Reese across the neck, sending her hard to the floor. Officials called a Flagrant 1 after review.

There were no hard feelings, as Griner immediately helped Reese to her feet. Reese was unharmed, splitting a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession.

Under the 2026 CBA, a Flagrant 1 carries a $500 fine, which Griner will have to pay.

The moment was bittersweet for Griner, who could not get a win in her return to Atlanta.

The 10-time All-Star spent last season with the Dream. She averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 39 games.

Griner had even welcomed Reese to Atlanta via social media after the offseason trade. However, that frontcourt pairing never happened.

The 35-year-old opted to sign a one-year deal with Connecticut in April. She joined the Sun ahead of their relocation to Houston, where Griner was born and raised.

Against her former team, Griner finished with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in 29 minutes.

Reese delivered a strong double-double for Atlanta, finishing with 12 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 36 points on 12-of-24 shooting.

Despite the foul, there is no bad blood between Griner and Reese, just a $500 bill on the way.

Related: Brittney Griner Makes Feelings Clear About Her New WNBA Situation

Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM.

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