Angel Reese absolutely etched her name in the WNBA history books on Sunday, dropping her 29th double-double of the season. Her monstrous 15 points and 11 rebounds pushed the Atlanta Dream to an 89-81 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. That wasn’t just a big win, it also set a new WNBA single-season record for double-doubles, and it stopped the league-leading Lynx from clinching that coveted No. 1 playoff seed. Talk about making a statement!
The Dream Woke Up With Fury
The Dream proved once again how brutal that first game back after a long road trip can be. They looked totally flat in a nearly 20-point loss to the Portland Fire on Friday night. But Sunday? Sunday was a whole different story. Coach Smesko said they came out with “a different pace” and “different energy,” and you could feel it from tip-off. They clamped down hard on the Lynx offense, holding Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles to zero assists for only the second time this season. That’s a huge defensive effort, especially against an MVP candidate, and it shows the “different mindset” Smesko was talking about. Securing the season series win over Minnesota for the second straight season, and handing them a second-straight loss for only the second time this season, proves this team has some serious fight when they want it.
Star Power Showed Up (And a Legend Debuted)
While Reese was busy breaking records, her teammates were cooking. Allisha Gray kicked things off, attacking the basket and draining 3s to score 18 of her game-high 23 points in the first half. Then Rhyne Howard took over in the second, scoring all of her 16 points and hitting triples and tough takes exactly when the Lynx tried to make a run. Jordin Canada was lethal with her lightning-quick drives, racking up 16 points and dishing out 10 dimes. Even Naz Hillmon, with a modest seven points and three rebounds, was a game-changer; the Dream outscored the Lynx by a game-high 21 points during her minutes! And then there was the debut of DeWanna Bonner. She got a huge standing ovation before hitting seven points in her 17 minutes, including a 3-pointer assisted by the record-breaker herself, Reese. Her previous teammate, Alyssa Thomas, held Reese’s record until now.
This wasn’t just another win. This was a statement game for the Dream. They prevented the Lynx from clinching that No. 1 seed and showed the league they’re absolutely for real. With Reese breaking records and Bonner adding another layer of championship pedigree, this Dream squad is looking dangerous. Keep an eye on them, because something special is brewing in Atlanta.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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