The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in overtime on Sunday, with the game’s outcome hinging on a missed layup by Atlanta’s Angel Reese in the final seconds of regulation.
Caitlin Clark scored 26 points for Indiana, including two free throws in overtime, and secured the game-sealing rebound as the Fever improved to 22-11 in the standings. Reese finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which fell to 21-12.
The game remained tied 81-81 with 5.5 seconds left when Reese collected an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Rhyne Howard. She attempted a put-back layup but missed, and Naz Hillmon’s subsequent shot also failed, sending the contest to overtime.
Key Moments in Overtime
Indiana opened the extra period with an 8-0 run, extending its lead to 93-88 with 13.6 seconds remaining on a layup by Kelsey Mitchell. A controversial foul call on Clark with 10 seconds left sent Howard to the free-throw line, where she made all three attempts to cut the deficit to 93-91. The Fever recovered the inbound pass, and Clark’s subsequent free throws sealed the victory.
Reese’s Struggles and Recovery
Reese began the game 0-of-6 from the field and admitted in a halftime interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe that she was “playing like s---” early on. She credited her teammates—including Allisha Gray (21 points) and Madina Okot (6 points, 6 rebounds)—for helping Atlanta rally in the second half. Reese finished the game with 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting in the first half before improving to 14 points and 12 rebounds overall.
Fan and Media Reactions
Social media widely circulated a clip of Reese reacting to her missed layup, with some fans mocking her performance. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy posted a video of the miss on X, writing, “ANGEL REESE AT THE BUZZER FOR THE WI…… ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️.” Other users criticized her for failing to convert an easy shot under the basket.
Meanwhile, a separate clip showed Clark laughing as she walked past Reese following the missed layup. The moment sparked debate online, with some viewers interpreting it as unsportsmanlike conduct and others viewing it as a natural reaction to a pivotal play.
League Implications
The win kept Indiana in first place in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference, while Atlanta remained in the playoff hunt. Both teams entered the game with identical records (21-11) before the loss.
The Fever improved to 22-11, while the Dream dropped to 21-12. Indiana’s defense, which held Atlanta to 9 points in the fourth quarter, was credited as a key factor in the victory.
Postgame Statements
Neither team immediately responded to requests for comment following the game.