Seven points from Angel Reese in Game 5 were bad enough, but her complaints about the officiating have now raised a flag. Atlanta needed more from its star, but instead, the conversation after a 64-55 loss is about the calls. A journalist covering the Indiana Fever has questioned Reese’s grievances.
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“You can’t complain about the refs,” Robin Lundberg said on his X handle. “We all know WNBA refs are out of control in the inconsistencies and the level of physicality. We’ve seen people getting hit across the face. No call, no look at the review, right? But what is she [Reese] implying there? Something has shifted since we went up 2-1.”
After the Dream went up 2-1 at State Farm Arena on the back of a 21-point performance by Reese, the star has struggled in the last two games. She has scored eight and seven points in the last two games, respectively.
Reese questioned the lack of foul calls after the last defeat, arguing that Atlanta players were absorbing contact without consistently getting whistles.
She also described the situation as frustrating, saying officials had sometimes indicated that players would receive calls the next time. These comments prompted a response from Robin Lundberg, a writer/editor for Indiana Fever On SI, who challenged both her performance and her complaints about the referees.
“She’s been playing out of control, she is not finishing her shots… And I’m sorry, when your go-to move is to lower your shoulder and drive it through somebody’s chest, you can’t complain about the refs,” Lundberg added.
To support this point, he also cited the total free throws awarded over the five games. The Dream had 130, compared with the Valkyries’ 78.
The Atlanta Dream Have a Do-or-Die Situation
Reese’s Game 5 box score provides context for the criticism. She finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, shooting 2-for-8 from the field. The official game recap also recorded three offensive fouls against her. The series-wide free-throw figures add another dimension to Lundberg’s argument.
On free throws, the difference stands at 52 attempts. The Dream also held a 31–13 advantage in attempts during Game 4. In Game 5, however, Atlanta’s advantage narrowed to 14 attempts against 13 for the Valkyries.
The free-throw disparity provides a numerical basis for questioning Reese’s broader complaint, but it doesn’t address every incident she disputed. Atlanta could lead in total free-throw attempts and still believe particular fouls went uncalled. The distinction is central to the disagreement: Lundberg questioned Reese’s criticism, while she focused on the contact she believed officials had overlooked.
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko took a different position after the loss, publicly defending Reese’s concerns.
“The contact they allow on Angel compared to everybody else is just ridiculous,” the head coach said.
He argued that the Dream should have gone to the free-throw line “six to eight more times.” Smesko also acknowledged that Atlanta missed shots it should have made, but maintained that the officiating needed improvement.
Atlanta’s offensive struggles also contributed to the defeat. The Dream shot 19-for-65 from the field (29%), while Golden State scored 21 points off Atlanta’s turnovers. These struggles underscore the challenge Atlanta faces as it prepares for a must-win Game 6.
Atlanta will have the opportunity to respond on the court on Thursday, October 29. The Dream must win to force a deciding seventh game, while Golden State can clinch the championship with another victory. For Reese, the priority will be to make a bigger impact offensively, while Atlanta must improve its overall execution to keep its championship hopes alive.