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Sophie Cunningham criticized two plays by Angel Reese in the WNBA semifinals that drew no fouls, describing the contact as dangerous and questioning the officials’ decisions. Cunningham also praised Reese’s effort; the plays and her comments are distinct from any formal league finding about the contact.
Sophie Cunningham criticized two Angel Reese plays from the WNBA semifinals that went uncalled, calling the contact dangerous and asking whether the officials’ decisions were “weird.” Cunningham made the remarks on her podcast before the WNBA Finals, while also praising Reese for playing hard and pursuing the ball.
The plays Cunningham discussed both occurred in Game 3 between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty. In the first, Reese made contact with Breanna Stewart after officials had already called a foul on Rhyne Howard. Stewart was knocked to the floor. No foul was called on Reese for that contact, according to Bleacher Report’s account of the game.
The second incident came early in the fourth quarter. After officials had called a timeout, Reese appeared to dive toward a loose ball and made contact with Marine Fauthoux’s legs. That contact also did not result in a foul against Reese. Cunningham questioned both decisions, but her description is her assessment of the plays, not a league ruling that either was a dangerous or illegal play.
“Angel is going to play hard,” Cunningham said on the podcast. She credited Reese for making the extra effort to get to the floor, then added: “But you can’t tackle someone in the air and then go for someone’s knees and ankles. That’s a dangerous play.” Cunningham also asked, “And for those just to go uncalled, is that not weird? Am I missing something?”
Scrutiny Falls on Play and Officiating
Cunningham’s comments put a spotlight on two closely contested decisions and a wider debate about consistency in WNBA officiating. Players and coaches have previously spoken publicly about officiating, according to the report. Questions about how contact is judged can affect perceptions of fairness, player safety and the league’s handling of physical play.
The distinction matters: the source reports that no fouls were called on Reese in the incidents, but it does not report any subsequent league review, discipline or official conclusion that the plays violated rules. Cunningham’s criticism is a public opinion about those calls, not confirmation of misconduct by Reese or the officials.
The timing also brought added attention to Reese, who was preparing for her first Finals appearance with Atlanta. The discussion could shape the conversation around the series, but the available reporting does not establish that the plays changed the outcome of the semifinal game or that the league changed its officiating approach in response.
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Two Semifinal Plays Behind the Comments
Cunningham raised the issue on a podcast episode released ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The report identifies the two incidents as having taken place in Game 3 of Atlanta’s semifinal series against New York. It says officials had called a foul on Howard before the Stewart contact, and a timeout before Reese’s later dive toward the loose ball.
Cunningham’s remarks were not solely critical: she said she appreciated Reese’s effort and described her as a player who goes after the ball. The report also notes that Reese has previously faced a “dirty player” label. In March 2024, an anonymous WNBA general manager told ESPN’s Katie Barnes that some of Reese’s play was “disrespectful to the game.” That was an anonymous individual’s characterization, not a league finding, and it does not establish what happened in these two later incidents.
““Angel is going to play hard. She is a player who goes after the ball.””
— Sophie Cunningham, on her podcast
No League Ruling Reported
The report does not say whether the WNBA reviewed either play after the game, whether officials explained the decisions, or whether any disciplinary action was considered. It also provides no response from Reese or the league to Cunningham’s comments. The source describes the contact and the absence of foul calls, but the available material does not establish the officials’ reasoning or a formal finding about whether either incident violated a rule.
Finals Begin Amid Officiating Debate
At the time of the report, Reese and the Atlanta Dream were preparing to face the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The report does not establish whether Cunningham’s remarks would prompt a response from the league or affect officiating in the series. Any later review, explanation or discipline would need to be confirmed by the WNBA or subsequent reporting.
Key Questions
What did Sophie Cunningham criticize?
She criticized two plays by Angel Reese in Game 3 against the New York Liberty that did not result in fouls against Reese. Cunningham called the contact dangerous and questioned the officials’ decisions.
What happened in the two plays?
In one incident, Reese made contact with Breanna Stewart after a foul had been called on Rhyne Howard, and Stewart fell. In the other, Reese appeared to dive toward a loose ball after a timeout and made contact with Marine Fauthoux’s legs. No foul was called on Reese in either incident, according to the report.
Did the WNBA rule that Reese made dangerous plays?
The source does not report a league ruling that either play was dangerous or illegal. “Dangerous” was Cunningham’s description of the contact.
Did Reese or the league respond to Cunningham?
No response from Reese or the WNBA is included in the report. Whether the league reviewed either play is also unclear.
What was next for Reese at the time?
Reese was preparing for her first WNBA Finals appearance with Atlanta. The Dream were scheduled to play the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 at Chase Center on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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