Angel Reese was close to missing one of the most important Atlanta Dream games because of a decision that seemed final. The star received her eighth technical foul of the season during the loss to Portland Fire, a number that normally carries an automatic one-game suspension.

However, the story took a turn just a few hours later. The WNBA reviewed the play and decided to rescind the technical, so Reese was once again left with seven and will be available to face the Minnesota Lynx.

Everything happened during a fight for a rebound

The action that led to the sanction for Atlanta’s center occurred in the final quarter, when Reese and Carla Leite got tangled up while trying to gain position under the basket.

“Reese was called by the referees and received the technical foul that, at that moment, seemed to doom her to miss the game against Minnesota Lynx.”

Atlanta’s reaction was immediate. Karl Smesko stated that, from where he had seen the play, it did not seem like an action deserving of a technical foul and added that the team would try to appeal.

The appeal ended up having the result the coach expected. The WNBA rescinded the technical just a few hours later and Reese was back to seven on the season.

The WNBA backtracked

The appeal was successful. The league rescinded the technical, and Reese was once again left with seven technical fouls on the season.

The change was swift: according to reports, the decision came just a few hours after the game, which allowed the Dream to know they would have their star for the next matchup. The situation also brings to mind what recently happened with Caitlin Clark, whose eighth technical was also rescinded after a review.

Angel finished the game against Portland with 16 points and 16 rebounds, but the real turn of the night came after the game: the technical foul that could have kept her out ultimately ceased to exist.