The Atlanta Dream pulled off a tight 82-80 win over the Phoenix Mercury Sunday, and they have Angel Reese to thank for it. Reese, who is known for her elite rebounding, also put another singular skill to use for the team: she somehow knows exactly how to come in clutch and keep things moving for the Dream as the team hurtles toward the end of a match.
Reese delighted Dream fans in a game that seemed all but lost with 2:30 left on the clock. The Mercury had a comfortable 75-66 lead over the Dream, but Atlanta wasn't ready to let things go. The team began steadily chipping away at that score, and Reese ended up guarding Alyssa Thomas.
That match was a powerful one. Both players were clearly frustrated and determined, but Reese's will was stronger.
Angel Reese was the perfect addition to the Atlanta Dream
It's already been stated more than once (we've definitely said it a few times here), but Reese was absolutely the missing piece the Atlanta Dream needed to beef up the team's performance this season. The Dream were already a powerhouse, but didn't quite have the 2025 season that they hoped. Adding Reese to the squad has almost guaranteed the 2026 season will go quite differently — something that should become even more true once a healthy Brionna Jones is back on the floor.
Reese's efforts in the fourth quarter were aided by those of teammates Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard. The game marked the second time the Dream has overcome a point deficit of at least 15 points, and the team is 2-1 when they've been behind by more than 15 points this season (for comparison, the rest of the league is 0-23 in the same scenario, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou).
Reese ultimately ended the game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. Howard led the Dream with 21 points, and Gray added on another 18 points of her own. Canada had her own double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. In other words, the Dream put in a pretty complete performance as a team, which is exactly what they need to do as they march toward their goals this season.
The Atlanta Dream will next travel to Minneapolis to face the Lynx on Wednesday, May 27, and then to Portland, Oregon, to play the Fire at the Moda Center on Friday, May 29.
Add us as a preferred source on Google