The Atlanta Dream picked up an 89-81 win over the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx behind a historic night fromAngel Reese and an incredible fourth quarter from Rhyne Howard.
The Dream are fighting to maintain a top-four seed in the standings, picking up a much-needed win over the league-leading Lynx behind a team-oriented performance.
The headlines belong to Reese, as she made WNBA history and shone in her role as an on-court leader during this win for the playoff-bound Dream.
Reese spoke to the media after the game and revealed what she told teammate Rhyne Howard after she went scoreless in the first half.
"I told her, 'Shooters shoot.' She didn't make a shot in the first half, and I felt like she was a little down. Just putting confidence into her and telling her, 'I need you. I need you every single time. If you miss, baby, I'm gonna get the rebound, don't worry.' I told her to keep shooting, and she came out big for us."
Howard went 0-for-3 in the first half and finished with zero points, but ended the game with 16 points after a second-half outburst.
She went into the fourth quarter shooting 1-for-7 from the field but broke out in the fourth quarter with 12 points on nine shots to bury the Lynx.
Reese had 15 points and 11 rebounds while being a +15 plus/minus on the night, with Allisha Gray leading the team with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lynx's Olivia Miles ended with 21 points and five rebounds, while Napheesa Collier had 17 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Reese's 15 points and 11 rebounds were her 29th double-double of the season, setting a new WNBA record for the most in a single season.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Reese is averaging 16.1 points and 12.4 rebounds over the season, with her 26-rebound game on August 24 setting the WNBA record for most rebounds in a single game.
It is well-known that Reese is arguably the best rebounder in the WNBA right now, with her biggest weakness being offensive efficiency.
With the value that generating extra possessions has in the analytics era, the 24-year-old's excellence on the boards and competent scoring can help her continue rising in the WNBA.
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