Angel Reese's 18-Point, 17-Rebound Night: Why The East Needs to Start Worrying About Atlanta

Holy smokes, did you SEE what went down in College Park on Saturday?! The Atlanta Dream absolutely WENT OFF, crushing the Washington Mystics 109-77! If you weren't watching, you missed Angel Reese putting on a clinic, dropping a monster 18 points AND grabbing an insane 17 rebounds for a double-double that screams dominance. Rhyne Howard chipped in 19 points too, leading the charge as the Dream solidified their spot as the best team in the entire Eastern Conference at 7-3. Talk about an early statement!

Dream Explode Offensively, Mystics Can't Keep Up From Deep

This game was wild from the jump, even with the Mystics taking an early four-point lead. But seriously, the Dream were having NONE of it. They slammed the door shut on the first quarter with a ridiculous 16-4 run, with Allisha Gray hitting a clutch three-pointer right before the buzzer to give Atlanta a 28-20 lead. Gray was on fire, pouring in 10 points in that opening frame. Washington tried to claw back a bit in the second, with Shakira Austin nailing a three to get them within seven, but then Reese went to work, scoring four straight points to spark a 10-0 Dream run. That stretched their lead to 42-25 with only just over four minutes left in the half. Atlanta went into halftime up 46-34, a comfortable 12-point cushion, but you could tell they were getting warmed up.

The biggest difference maker? The three-point line. The Dream were absolutely unconscious, draining 13 of 25 attempts, good for an absurd 52 percent! Meanwhile, the Mystics couldn't find their rhythm, shooting a dismal 5 of 16, or 31.2 percent, from downtown. When you give up that many triples and can't hit your own, it's gonna be a long night, especially against a team that’s clicking like Atlanta.

Second Half Blowout Seals Washington's Fate

Coming out of the locker room, the Dream didn't maintain their lead, they blew it wide open. Jordin Canada hit a huge three-pointer about halfway through the third quarter, pushing Atlanta's advantage to a massive 21 points. Kiki Iriafen, who led the Mystics with 24 points overall and 13 in the first half, tried to stop the bleeding with a layup, cutting the deficit to 18, but Atlanta kept coming. A quick 7-0 run extended the Dream's lead to 68-43, and honestly, the game felt over right there. Reese and Sika Kone closed out the third quarter with baskets that pushed the lead to a commanding 78-52 heading into the final frame.

Washington showed a tiny spark early in the fourth, with Cotie McMahon scoring five straight points as part of a 7-2 Mystics run, but Atlanta quickly snuffed that out. Te-Hina Paopao connected on the Dream's TENTH three-pointer of the game, making it 90-64 with under six minutes left. Sika Kone put the icing on the cake with yet another three-pointer that pushed Atlanta over 100 points to 102-72, their first 100-point game since a win against the Sparks last August. This wasn't merely a win, it was a statement. Madina Okot and Jordin Canada each added 11 points, while Allisha Gray finished with 15.

So, what's next? The Dream are riding high, showing why they've got the best record in the East. Their offense is explosive, their three-point shooting is lights out, and with Angel Reese owning the boards, they look like a serious force. You know every team in the conference is watching these results, and if the Dream keep playing like this, the rest of the league needs to figure out how to stop them, fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.