Dream Coach Calls Out WNBA Officials Over Angel Reese Disrespect After Loss

The Atlanta Dream suffered a loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night, 78-75, with five of the home team’s players finishing in double-digit scoring, including Gabby Williams with 16 points.

Valkyries center Kia Stokes scored 13 points, and Kaitlyn Chen added another 13 points off the bench, while the Dream received another strong double-double from Angel Reese. She had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and six steals, but also got into foul trouble, with the WNBA All-Star on the verge of fouling out.

After the loss, Dream head coach Karl Smesko said he feels Reese isn’t getting the respect she deserves from the referees, calling the officials out over foul calls or lack thereof.

“We’re a really good team, and we don’t get the kind of respect from officials we deserve. Like some of the stuff that went on today was just bizarre, and Angel deserves more respect,” Smesko told reporters.

“Also, some of the calls, just excuse after excuse for why they missed it … That’s just stuff, that’s why the players get as frustrated as they do.”

More news:Stephanie White Says ‘No Indication' on Caitlin Clark Return Timeline

“If the same official misses six or seven calls, I wanna know that something’s gonna be done about it rather than ignored,” Smesko also said, indicating they’d see if anything is done from the league.

The Dream coach’s comments come just days after a controversial play went unnoticed in the Indiana Fever’s game against the Phoenix Mercury this past Wednesday.

As Fever star Caitlin Clark fell to the floor with the ball, several Mercury defenders tried to go after her for the ball. Still on her back, Clark managed to pass the ball over to an open teammate. Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, who had fallen on Clark, pushed her fist into Clark’s throat on the court while getting up.

With Clark still lying on the court, Thomas got up and stepped over the Fever star. There was no call at the time, as play continued. Clark later exited the game due to back issues and won’t play in her team’s game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks.

After backlash from Fever head coach Stephanie White, fans, and many sports personalities, calling out the controversial play, the WNBA stepped in and issued Thomas a Flagrant Foul 2 and a one-game suspension. She’ll miss her team’s game on Saturday at the Toronto Tempo.

In Friday night’s game, there were 22 personal fouls called on the Valkyries compared to 21 for the visitors, with the Dream receiving two more free-throw attempts than the home team. While Reese and teammate Rhyne Howard had five fouls each, Golden State’s Kia Stokes fouled out of the game with six.

According to Fox Sports, Reese and Clark are tied for the league lead in technical fouls with five each, some of which could be due to complaints or frustration over officiating.

More news:WNBA Announces Alyssa Thomas Punishment After Caitlin Clark Incident

For more about the WNBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 9:53 AM.