COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The Atlanta Dream returned to the win column Thursday night behind another dominant performance from Angel Reese, defeating the Seattle Storm 89-78 at Gateway Center Arena to end a five-game losing streak.
Reese continued her remarkable season by posting 18 points and 11 rebounds, collecting her WNBA-leading 15th double-double of the year. The milestone also placed her atop another historic list, as she surpassed Tina Charles for the most double-doubles by a player during her first three seasons in the league.
Her night, however, ended on a concerning note when she rolled her right ankle with 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the court.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta’s balanced offensive attack with a game-high 22 points, while Rhyne Howard added 19 points, knocking down four three-pointers to help the Dream regain momentum after a difficult stretch.
Atlanta seized control during the third quarter, using a decisive run that was capped by a Reese basket to build a commanding 68-48 advantage. The Dream maintained at least an eight-point cushion throughout the final period, preventing Seattle from mounting a serious comeback.
The victory improved Atlanta to 13-9, earning its first win since June 22.
Seattle struggled to protect the basketball throughout the contest, committing a season-high 21 turnovers, many of which Atlanta converted into transition opportunities.
Natisha Hiedeman paced the Storm with 20 points, while rookie Dominique Malonga contributed 15 points and nine rebounds. Flau’jae Johnson added 12 points for Seattle, which dropped to 6-18 on the season.
The Storm also endured a difficult shooting night from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3 of 20 attempts, while Atlanta capitalized with timely perimeter shooting and relentless defensive pressure.
The Dream’s defense continued to be one of the keys to their success, recording 14 or more steals for the third consecutive game as they consistently disrupted Seattle’s offensive rhythm.
Among those in attendance was LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey, who watched two of her former standout players, Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson, compete against one another on the WNBA stage.
Up Next:
The Storm continue their road trip Sunday against the Washington Mystics, while the Dream return home Saturday to host the Portland Fire in another key matchup as Atlanta looks to build on its long-awaited victory.
