LSU women's basketball alums Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson had their first WNBA meeting on Saturday, yet the moment that drew the most media attention came after the final buzzer.
The Seattle Storm beat the Atlanta Dream 105-90 at Climate Pledge Arena. However, ESPN focused on a tense interaction between the former college teammates.
WNBA Fans Push Back on ESPN's Handshake 'Snub' Highlight
Instead, the network posted a clip of an apparent handshake snub between the former LSU teammates in the final minute.
Fans expressed their outrage almost immediately. Many pointed out that ESPN hadn't posted about the WNBA in days, only resurfacing to frame Angel Reese in a negative light. Others accused the network of manufacturing a conflict for engagement rather than covering the game itself.
However, the actual basketball game told a different story.
Johnson led Seattle with 24 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-12 shooting in one of the best outings of her young career. Reese added 17 points and nine rebounds for Atlanta, though the Dream couldn't overcome Seattle's offensive output.
Both players helped lead LSU to the 2023 NCAA national championship before taking separate paths to the WNBA. The pair will face off again in a Dream vs Storm rematch on July 9th at 8 PM ET, live on Prime Video.
Where to Watch Angel Reese & Flau'jae Johnson's WNBA Games
Before then, Atlanta will battle the Washington Mystics on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET. Seattle, meanwhile, visits the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday for a 10 PM ET meeting.
Both matchups air live on WNBA League Pass.
