Angel Reese Drops 31 Points to Send Dream to WNBA Playoffs
Angel Reese just keeps one-upping herself, setting a new career high with 31 points to lead the Atlanta Dream over the Phoenix Mercury on the road.
The Dream got off to an early lead, going up by as many as 15 points, but the Mercury powered back in the third quarter to get within one point. Reese then turned up the heat in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of her total points in the final frame to secure a 99-89 victory.
Reese's previous career high was 27 points, a number she hit in July of her rookie season while with the Chicago Sky. This is Reese's first time breaking 30 points in a single game in the WNBA.
The win came despite a big night from two of Phoenix's stars. Kahleah Copper scored 38 points after getting hot in the third quarter, a number that falls just three short of her WNBA career-high.
Alyssa Thomas also had a notable performance, dropping a triple-double and scoring her 5000th point during the game, joining just a handful of people to hit the mark in league history.
The Mercury, who currently sit 12th in the standings, are among the five WNBA teams who have already been eliminated from the postseason.
The Dream, on the other hand, have been on a bit of a tear lately, setting a franchise record for points in a game with a 124-88 win over the Los Angeles Sparks just two days prior.
Atlanta will now try to set itself up in a favorable position in order to break a three-year streak of first-round postseason losses.
With the win, Atlanta became the fifth team to clinch a WNBA playoff berth. The Dream currently sit fourth in the standings with a 24-13 record and a game in hand.
Source: Yahoo Sports