Angel Reese scores career-high 31 as Atlanta Dream secure playoff spot

Angel Reese recorded a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 99-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday night and securing a playoff berth. The win moved Atlanta half a game ahead of the Indiana Fever for the fourth seed with seven games remaining in the season.

Rhyne Howard contributed 20 points, Allisha Gray added 17, and Jordin Canada had 12 as the Dream improved to 24-13, winning five of their last six games. Reese shot 14 of 21 from the field, a notable increase after going perfect in the previous game. She surpassed her previous career high of 27 points set in 2024 as a rookie with the Chicago Sky and continues to chase the league record for double-doubles.

"Just staying poised and not letting anybody speed me up," Reese said. "I think I'm at my best when I'm around the basket... I just had to finish."

Dream coach Karl Smesko said Reese's offensive game has continued to develop.

"I think she keeps getting better and keeps being able to expand her game," Smesko said. "She was scoring in a multitude of ways and had a really great fourth quarter for us."

Phoenix's Kahleah Copper scored 38 points, but the Mercury fell to 13-24, becoming the first team since 2008 to miss the playoffs after reaching the WNBA Finals the previous season. Alyssa Thomas recorded her 22nd regular-season triple-double with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, while DeWanna Bonner added 12 points for the Mercury.

The Dream built an early lead, up 14-3 within four minutes and 29-18 after the first quarter, and maintained a 15-point advantage at halftime. Phoenix narrowed the gap in the third quarter but could not overcome Atlanta's lead in the final period.