Angel Reese hit the court for her first-ever WNBA postseason game rocking some serious new gear: a protective face mask. Fans saw the Atlanta Dream forward sporting the new look before Sunday’s first-round opener against the Washington Mystics. That mask isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a direct consequence of a scary moment in Atlanta’s regular-season finale when Reese took a brutal elbow to the face against the New York Liberty, forcing her out of the second half of that game.
The Masked Marvel Is Ready for Playoff Ball
The sight of Reese masked up was a huge relief for the Dream faithful. Just days earlier, that Liberty game exit had everyone holding their breath. Coach Karl Smesko confirmed after that incident that she had been cleared to return, but the team wisely decided to keep her off the court for the rest of that contest, prioritizing her health for the playoffs. So, when she laced up and stepped out for the playoff opener, mask and all, it signaled one thing: Angel Reese was ready to get after it. You gotta admire that kind of grit, especially heading into her first-ever WNBA postseason action.
Rebounding Is The Name of the Game for Atlanta
This playoff debut for Reese is a massive moment on its own. She just wrapped up a rookie season for Atlanta that was nothing short of incredible. She literally led the league in rebounding, absolutely shattering WNBA single-season records for total rebounds, offensive rebounds, and double-doubles. Oh, and she snagged Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the final three weeks of the regular season. Talk about finishing strong!
The Dream earned the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in this best-of-three series against the fifth-seeded Mystics. Atlanta closed out the regular season on fire, winning their final five games. But here’s the kicker: Washington actually took two of the three head-to-head meetings between these teams. That tells you everything you need to know about how tight this series could be. Rebounding could absolutely be the deciding factor here, and that’s where Reese becomes an absolute game-changer. She’s the one giving Atlanta those critical second, third, and even fourth chances after missed shots, even with Washington boasting strong players down in the paint. Her work on the glass, frankly, matters just as much as any points she puts up.
The mask will definitely grab attention when Reese takes the floor, especially after that scare. But what really matters to the Dream, and to every fan watching, is whether Reese can bring that same insane energy to the boards and help turn what’s been a phenomenal regular season into a statement playoff series win. Can she dominate the glass and push her team through to the next round? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply