The Atlanta Dream picked the perfect moment to play their best basketball of the season. On Sunday at Gateway Center Arena, Atlanta knocked off the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, 89-81, delivering a statement win heading into the FIBA break — and doing it with a new face in the lineup.
DeWanna Bonner made her debut for the Dream, contributing seven points and four rebounds in her first appearance. Her arrival adds another layer of experience to a roster that just showed it can go toe-to-toe with the best team in the WNBA.
“It says a lot about our team,” point guard Jordin Canada said. “When we play this type of basketball, we are one of the best teams out there.”
A Historic Night for Reese and Gray
Three Dream players finished with double-doubles, and the headline belonged to Angel Reese, who set a WNBA single-season record with her 29th double-double of the year — 15 points and 11 rebounds. Reese and Alyssa Thomas had previously shared the mark.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Canada said of Reese. “She brings that grit, that tenacity, that attitude that we need.”
Allisha Gray notched her first double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds, and along the way became just the 23rd player in league history to reach 500 career 3-pointers. The milestone shot fell with 8:52 remaining in the second quarter.
“I credit my teammates because they were able to find me and put me in great positions to get me open,” Gray said.
Canada rounded out the double-double trio with 16 points and 10 assists, while Rhyne Howard added 16 points, delivering five key shots down the stretch to help fend off Minnesota’s fourth-quarter push.
Building the Lead — and Holding On
Gray’s hot shooting helped Atlanta build a 52-41 halftime lead as the Dream shot 54.3% from the floor, a dramatic turnaround from the first half of Friday’s home loss to Portland. Atlanta pushed the advantage to 20 points in the third quarter before Minnesota clawed back to make it 71-62 heading into the fourth.
The Lynx trimmed the deficit to seven, but Howard answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from the left wing to push the lead back to 13 with 5:55 to play. Minnesota cut it to 10 a couple more times down the stretch, and each time Howard had a basket ready in response.
Head Coach Karl Smesko pointed to a sharper approach from the opening tip as the difference-maker after Friday’s uneven start against Portland.
“I think we showed up at the beginning of the game as a different team,” Smesko said. “We needed to get on the attack; we needed to get them on their heels.”
“We were motivated not just because it was Minnesota and they’re just an outstanding team, but we were motivated because the last game we thought we didn’t show up at the very beginning with the intensity and the focus on a game plan from the very beginning, and we just had a different mindset about us, and that’s just got to be who we are every single game for the rest of the year,” Smesko added.
Playoff Picture
The win moves Atlanta to 26-14 and into the fourth seed in the playoff race — a spot that comes with home-court advantage in the first round. The Dream trail second-place Golden State by 2.5 games and third-place Las Vegas by 1 game, while Minnesota remains atop the standings. The fourth seed will host the fifth seed, currently Indiana, in the opening round.
Looking Ahead
Atlanta now heads into the FIBA break with plenty to feel good about. Four Dream players will represent their countries at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Sept. 4-13: Howard and Reese will suit up for Team USA — the first time two Dream players have made that roster together — while Sika Kone plays for Mali and Isobel Borlase for Australia.
Smesko said he’ll use the break to evaluate the roster, scout upcoming playoff opponents, and sharpen a few weaknesses before the stretch run. The Dream return to action hosting Connecticut on Sept. 17, the first of four regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin.
“Good team effort and great way to go into the break,” Smesko said.
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