Rusty Weiss
Brittney Griner was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul late in the fourth quarter after sending Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese to the floor during a fight for a loose ball on Tuesday night.
Griner’s Size Advantage Turns Physical Battle into Viral Moment
It was a clear mismatch from the jump, and the Connecticut Sun veteran reminded everyone just how big that gap really is. The 6-foot-9 Griner got tangled up with Reese while battling for position under the basket.
Griner’s long arms wrapped around the 6-foot-3 Reese, lifting and sending her tumbling to the floor like a rag doll. She essentially took Reese, who was heading in one direction, and pulled her back in the opposite direction, down to the floor. All with one arm.
After a quick review, officials hit Griner with the Flagrant 1.
The play, which happened with Atlanta leading comfortably, instantly blew up on social media.
Brittney Griner received a Flagrant 1 for this play against Angel Reese. pic.twitter.com/ukVqIzJN1j
— espnW (@espnW) June 3, 2026
Some viewers and analysts called it a legitimate hard foul given Griner’s sheer size and strength. Others weren’t so sure, suggesting Reese might have sold the contact a bit.
Either way, the optics were striking: Griner made Reese look tiny out there, and the veteran didn’t seem to realize her own power in the moment.
Reese stepped to the line and hit one of two free throws, helping keep the Dream’s momentum rolling.
Atlanta Cruises to Victory as Debate Over Physicality Heats Up
Atlanta went on to cruise to a 91-75 victory in the Commissioner’s Cup matchup. Reese had a strong night on the glass with 13 rebounds, outworking Griner, who finished with just four.
The win gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. What could’ve been a routine physical play became one of the most talked-about moments of the young season. The Dream also improved to 6-2 on the year, good enough for the second-best record in the league.
The incident quickly drew opposing viewpoints, as is often the case in the WNBA. Fans started debating and chatting about the league’s physicality, how officials handle size disparities, and whether some players exaggerate contact. Did Reese flop in this instance? Or is Griner simply that imposing physically?
Currently, Griner faces the standard fine for the flagrant, but no further suspension. Her frustration follows off the court as well, with the Sun dropping to 2-9 on the season, the worst record in the league.
The Dream will head to Indiana to take on Caitlin Clark and the Fever on Thursday.
