Angel Reese just came back from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup like she had something to prove, dropping a mind-blowing 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting as the Atlanta Dream annihilated the Connecticut Sun 103-59. She was on fire, adding 10 rebounds for her 30th double-double of the season, all while finishing just one point shy of her career high. Talk about coming back with a statement right after the WNBA paused for nearly three weeks.
Reese Came Back From Germany and Took Over
Atlanta held a manageable 45-35 lead at halftime, but then Reese decided it was time to turn up the heat. She attacked the beginning of the second half with relentless force, and the Dream immediately unleashed a 16-5 run that absolutely crushed any suspense. Connecticut didn’t know what hit them. Atlanta outscored the Sun an insane 31-11 in the third quarter alone, stretching that 10-point halftime lead to a commanding 30. Reese capped her rapid start to the half with a corner 3-pointer midway through the quarter, giving Atlanta a 61-40 advantage. That shot was her 10th field goal in only 13 attempts. It was pure dominance, sending a clear message to the rest of the league.
Unreal Efficiency: 30 Points in 25 Minutes
Seriously, Reese was playing on another level. Her 30 points came on an extraordinary 78.6 percent from the field. She wasn’t just relying on offensive rebounds or a ton of missed shots to get her points either; she was scoring from all around the basket and even showed off an expanding range. This kind of offensive package is going to make her even more difficult to defend as the season progresses. She reached 30 points at the free-throw line with 5:38 left and secured her 10th rebound just seconds later, locking up that double-double in a mere 25 minutes on the court! Think about that: 1.2 points per minute. Coach Karl Smesko had the luxury of protecting one of his most important players late in the game because Atlanta’s dominance removed any need for her to chase a new career high.
The Postseason Threat Just Got Real
This performance changes everything for the Dream, who already had a playoff berth secured before the FIBA break. Reese’s offensive growth bumps up the potential ceiling for a team already loaded with perimeter firepower. We’ve seen her control games with rebounding, energy, and defense, but this game showed how overwhelming Atlanta can become when she’s scoring this efficiently too. She just helped the United States win the FIBA World Cup in Germany and came back looking like the player who can be Atlanta’s postseason centerpiece. If this is the Angel Reese we get all season, watch out. She is going to make some serious noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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