Angel Reese's physicality drew crucial foul calls, sparking fierce criticism from her mother and a near ejection for the star.
Angel Reese delivered another strong performance for Team USA on Thursday night. But for a moment during the game, it wasn’t her stat line that had people talking — it was the whistle.
The Chicago Sky forward finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds in the United States’ 91–48 victory over Puerto Rico in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. However, Reese’s physical play also led to a series of foul calls that nearly cut her night short.
By the middle of the game, the 23-year-old had already accumulated four fouls in just 16 minutes, putting her one whistle away from disqualification under FIBA rules.
Watching the situation unfold, Reese’s mother, Angel Webb Reese, took to social media to express her frustration with the officiating.
“These FIBA refs 🤨,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter) during the game.
The concern was understandable. Under FIBA regulations, five personal fouls result in an automatic ejection, meaning Reese was one call away from being forced out despite her strong showing on the glass.
Fortunately for Team USA, that moment never arrived.
Reese stayed on the floor long enough to secure the double-double while helping the Americans control the game from start to finish. The blowout victory marked Team USA’s second straight win in the qualifying tournament after opening with a dominant performance against Senegal.
As soon as the final buzzer sounded, Webb Reese’s tone quickly shifted from frustration to celebration.
“2 down 3 more to go 💪🏾,” she posted shortly after the win.
Reese wasn’t the only one drawing attention during the tournament. The matchup also highlighted the evolving dynamic between former rivals Caitlin Clark and Reese, who are now teammates on the national squad.
During the earlier game against Senegal, Clark was seen lobbying officials after Reese appeared to take contact without a whistle — a small moment that showed the growing camaraderie between the two stars.
Team USA has already secured its place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the qualifying tournament still serves as a valuable opportunity for the roster to build chemistry.
Next up, the Americans will face Italy on March 14, followed by games against New Zealand and Spain as the group stage continues.
If Reese continues producing like she did Thursday — preferably with fewer foul calls — Team USA’s dominant run in Puerto Rico may just continue.