Flau'jae Johnson posted 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Seattle Storm beat the Atlanta Dream 105-90 on Saturday, then approached former LSU teammate Angel Reese for a post-game handshake — which Reese declined, walking past without acknowledgment. It was the first WNBA meeting between the two players. Atlanta trailed by 14 when Reese exited the floor.
Box Score: Johnson Edges Reese in First Pro Showdown
Johnson's 24-11-4 line outpaced Reese's 17 points and 9 rebounds on the night. Reese, now with the Atlanta Dream, and Johnson, a Storm rookie, were on opposite sides for the first time as professionals. Johnson had hugged Seattle teammates before the final buzzer, then moved toward Reese; Reese did not stop.
LSU Roots, Divergent Pro Starts
The two players shared the floor at LSU in 2023, when the Tigers won the national championship over Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes. That season, Reese averaged 23 points and 15.6 rebounds per game; Johnson, a freshman, averaged 11 points and 5.9 rebounds. Johnson took Saturday's snub in stride, per the broadcast.
Where Each Team Stands
The loss drops Atlanta to 12-7 on the season, fifth in the WNBA standings. Seattle sits at 5-15, near the bottom of the league. The Storm win was one of few bright spots in a difficult campaign; the Dream, despite the defeat, remain among the stronger teams in the conference through 19 games.
| Stat | Reese (ATL) | Johnson (SEA) |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 17 | 24 |
| Rebounds | 9 | 11 |
| Assists | — | 4 |
| Team Record | 12-7 | 5-15 |