With their eyes set firmly on the playoffs, Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream host Chicago on Saturday night in their regular-season home finale.
“I want to play the first round right now,” Reese said after her WNBA-record 30th double-double (30 points, 10 rebounds) of the season in Thursday’s 103-59 win at Connecticut. “But obviously, we have to be ready for these games and be ready for the playoffs.”
Atlanta (27-14) enters having won six of its last seven. The Dream are fourth in the WNBA standings, percentage points ahead of Indiana, and have a mathematical shot at the No. 3 seed. The Dream close out the regular season with two games in New York against the Liberty.
Reese’s impressive effort came after a strong performance in the FIBA World Cup, where she led the gold-medal-winning Team USA in blocks and earned a new nickname as the “Gold Medal Barbie.”
“I was joking in the locker room before the game that I was well-rested and ready to play today,” Reese said. “Especially with this team, knowing how good we are. It’s important to make sure that we’re setting the tone, no matter what team we are playing against.”
Reese wasn’t the only Dream player to set a record Thursday. Rhyne Howard made her 129th 3-pointer of the season, the most by a WNBA player in a single season.
“I am breaking a 3-point record every year so I expect nothing less,” said Howard, who is averaging 18.1 points per game. “I like to shoot. There are going to be plenty more 3-point records with my name on it as long as I’m in the league. It’s what I like to do.”
Chicago (15-26) and Atlanta are linked after the Sky traded Reese in April. Chicago owns the Dream’s next two first-round draft picks.
It has been a frustrating season in Chicago. The Sky traded for Rickea Jackson, who tore her ACL in May after playing in four games. Skylar Diggins (knee) was ruled out for the season on Sept. 1 and DiJonai Carrington has been out with an injured foot.
The Sky were routed by Washington 110-80 on Thursday in their fourth straight loss. It was the seventh time this season they allowed over 100 points.
“You give up 110 points and you are not going to beat anybody,” Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said. “I thought we had our moments in the game. I have commended our team all year for how consistent their fight has been and that’s what I want to see the rest of the way.”
Chicago’s biggest bright spot this season has been Kamilla Cardoso, who is averaging career highs in points (14.7) and rebounds (8.7) in her third year.
Atlanta has won the teams’ last seven meetings, including two this season.
–Field Level Media
