RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Watch Angel Reese's NSFW reaction to poor first quarter showing vs. Fever: 'I was playing like s—' originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Angel Reese endured a sour opening 10 minutes in the Dream's clash with the Fever on Sunday.
The three-time All-Star and rebounding maven toiled when matched up against Indiana's Makayla Timpson, seeing shot after shot roll off the rim — or backboard — in a dour display.
Both she and her team would overcome its early-game jitters in due time. But the legacy of the struggles would resurface during a candid — and memorable — exchange between Reese and ESPN's Holly Rowe at halftime. Here's what you need to know.
MORE: Why Angel Reese deserves DPOY over A'ja Wilson
Angel Reese's NSFW reaction to poor first quarter showing vs. Fever
Speaking with Rowe after the first half came to a close, Reese summed up her first-quarter struggles candidly.
"I was playing like s— in the beginning," Reese admitted.
Holly Rowe interviewed Angel Reese at halftime and this just happened on live tv pic.twitter.com/VCbXsVYytH
— Jet (@_jetgaming) August 16, 2026 The Dream star missed the target with each of her first six shot attempts. She blew a wide-open fast break in the game's opening frame and looked rushed while taking shots at the rim.
Angel Reese cherry picking just to smoke the lay 😬 pic.twitter.com/x5BTCCT17z
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) August 16, 2026 Her toils were magnified by Caitlin Clark's effectiveness. The Fever guard enjoyed a nigh-on faultless early-game display, helping Indiana take a nine-point lead at one point.
Reese found her rhythm as the action wore on, however. Atlanta would soon follow.
"It's a game of runs, you got to put that in your back pocket," Reese said. "Just because you know you have teammates that have your back."
Reese sank three of her final four shot attempts in the first half. She also showcased her playmaking chops, pushing the ball forward to the tune of three first-half assists. Reese's rebounding dazzled as it tends to do — she collected nine boards in the opening 20 minutes of action.
Fueled by her improved offensive outing — and a stifling second-quarter display — the Dream wrestled dominance back from Indiana, taking a four-point lead into the break.
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