WNBA Finals Fury: Coach Slams Refs Over 'Ridiculous' Missed Calls on Reese!

In a pivotal Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, the Atlanta Dream suffered a 64-55 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, putting them in a 3-2 series deficit. Following the game, Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko vehemently criticized the officiating, specifically highlighting what he deemed a “ridiculous” amount of uncalled contact against star player Angel Reese.

Smesko expressed strong support for Reese, stating, “The contact on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous. Just ridiculous.” He also added his frustration with the overall standard of officiating, asserting, “You can’t be at this level and make that many mistakes.” His primary concerns included numerous missed calls against Reese, as well as several uncalled double dribbles and travel violations by the Valkyries.

Angel Reese echoed her coach's sentiments, revealing that the intense physicality and questionable officiating have been a consistent challenge throughout her season. “I am still trying to figure out how to play through the physicality,” Reese remarked, noting that she was assessed four personal fouls in the game. She added that it's particularly frustrating when her teammates are also subjected to uncalled physical play. Reese emphasized her belief in having a mismatch against opponents in the post, stating that she should be able to turn and score without being called for offensive fouls, especially when she feels she is being pushed prior to her move.

The Game 5 performance marked a rare occurrence for Reese, as it was the first time in her career she recorded consecutive games with two or fewer field goals, encompassing both regular season and postseason play. It was also only the second time she has been held to single-digit scoring in consecutive games, with the previous instance occurring earlier in 2024. In Game 4, Reese managed only eight points on 2-of-12 shooting, alongside four fouls. Reese indicated a noticeable shift in officiating after Atlanta took a 2-1 series lead, suggesting a significant decrease in free throw opportunities for her team. While the Dream attempted an average of 29.0 free throws per game over the first four games, Game 5 saw them attempt only 14, their fewest of the postseason and tied for their second-fewest of the entire season.

Game 5 proved to be a historically low-scoring affair for both teams. The Golden State Valkyries' 64 points represented the fewest in a Finals win since the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, while the Atlanta Dream's 55 points were the fewest in a Finals game since the Mercury in Game 3 of the 2021 Finals. Atlanta struggled significantly from the field, hitting just 29.2% of their shots, ranking as the fourth lowest percentage by any team in a WNBA Finals game. Their struggles were particularly pronounced in the paint, where they shot a dismal 23.5%, the worst by any team this postseason.

Coach Smesko acknowledged his team's own shooting woes but reiterated his demand for improved officiating. “There are things that are on us, like we’re missing shots we should make. But at the same time, that needs to be a whole lot better than it was,” he said. “If you push someone with two hands, that’s got to be a foul. I’m kind of tired of some of the excuses that I’m hearing.” In contrast, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase viewed the heightened physicality as an expected element of the Finals, noting that both teams are defensive-minded and thrive on aggressive play, and that her team was not surprised by the intensity.