Heading into Tuesday’s matchup, the Atlanta Dream had been the favorites to win amongst oddsmakers towards the Dallas Wings. Cashing in on the 77-72 victory, the Dream strikes to an ideal 2-0 on the season. Anchoring the Atlanta frontcourt was Angel Reese, who made historical past within the win. Dallas, who shocked the Indiana Fever on opening night time, falls to 1-1.
Headlined by Reese and Paige Bueckers, each groups shined in Week 1 of the WNBA energy rankings. Tuesday’s contest included eight lead adjustments and 9 ties. However finally, the Dream pulled away resulting from late-game executions, made pictures, and protection.
Reese and Bueckers are shut on and off the courtroom. Each led the 2020 highschool class, which additionally featured Cameron Brink and several other others. Each Met Gala attendees confronted off for the primary time within the WNBA this season.
„It is actually thrilling to proceed to see me and Paige develop“, mentioned Reese. „We’re clearly mates off the courtroom, however between the courtroom we’re not mates.“
Reese, drafted No. 7 general by the Chicago Sky within the 2024 WNBA Draft, is an ideal 3-0 towards the Wings and Bueckers in her skilled profession, who was chosen No. 1 general by the Wings within the 2025 WNBA Draft. Now, each are well-liked faces within the WNBA, two gamers who’ve a deep influence on the sport.
Reese is now within the midst of her first season as a member of the Dream since Atlanta acquired her for 2 first-round picks and a 2028 second-round decide swap.
„Clearly, we’re two marketable gamers as nicely on and off the courtroom,“ mentioned Reese concerning her and Bueckers. „We do plenty of nice issues. A number of younger ladies look as much as each of us. Our journeys have been completely different, however individuals can relate to each of us.“
Angel Reese Makes Historical past
Reese turned the quickest participant in WNBA historical past to document 50 profession double-doubles in her Dream season debut within the 91-90 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. Having sealed the sport with a game-winning block, Reese carried that momentum into Arlington.
In 34 minutes of play, Reese recorded 12 factors on 4-of-8 from the sphere and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. She tallied a game-high 16 rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Simply 24 years previous, Reese has the sixth most video games with 15+ rebounds in WNBA historical past and is the quickest participant to tally 850 whole profession rebounds. Upon Reese’s arrival in Atlanta, the Dream boasts a +31 rebounding margin this season.
By means of two video games, Reese is averaging 11 factors, 14 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three.5 blocks.
Dream Rally Behind Reese, Grey
Dream star Allisha Grey was fast to level out Reese’s influence early on within the season.
„She’s such a optimistic individual. It doesn’t matter what state we’re within the recreation, she at all times brings us collectively and lets us know that we received it. She’s such a tough employee, and she or he’s such an amazing individual as nicely. When you get to know her and join along with her, she’s an incredible individual… a pleasure to be round. I’ve the time of my life hanging out with Angel.“
Reese hit Odyssey Sims with the „too small,“ and has instantly made an influence below head coach Karl Smesko’s system. Though time will inform if Reese will stretch the ground, she’s recorded back-to-back double-doubles to kick off the season. Logging 34 minutes, Reese had eight offensive rebounds and added 10 factors and 11 rebounds within the second half.
Angel mentioned TOO SMALL
ATL-DAL | League Cross I #WNBASeason30 pic.twitter.com/r8sGahakZe
— WNBA (@WNBA) Might 13, 2026
Neither group was notably environment friendly on the offensive finish, however Reese remained a continuing pressure on the inside. On the half, the Wings and Dream shot a mixed 7-of-35 (20%) from past the arc. Though the Dream ramped up manufacturing from three, particularly from Allisha Grey, it was a woeful efficiency for each. Down the stretch, Atlanta outscored Dallas 19-13 within the fourth quarter and went on a 15-6 run. The Dream sank 3-of-8 3-pointers within the remaining 10 minutes, two of which got here from Grey.
Grey led all scorers with 26 factors, taking pictures 9-of-20 from the sphere, 4-of-9 from three, and 100% from the free-throw line. In 34 minutes, she tallied 4 rebounds and ranks fifth in scoring with 24 factors per recreation.
Wings Carried by Bueckers, Ogunbowale
On the finish of regulation, Atlanta shot 26-of-69 (39%) from the sphere and 9-of-33 (27%) from deep. Nothing was falling for Dallas, because the Wings completed 28-of-73 (38%) from the ground, and 4-of-26 (15%) from 3-point vary. Regardless of the loss, Bueckers had herself an evening as she broke Jordin Canada’s ankles, ending with 15 factors on 5-of-12 taking pictures from the ground and 2-of-4 from past the arc. Main Dallas in scoring was Arike Ogunbowale with 20 factors.
put em on skates
#WingsUp https://t.co/nNcLVcq9iw pic.twitter.com/tNfbUL39pR
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) Might 13, 2026
Ogunbowale admits the Wings‘ protection might enhance, and the way Atlanta disrupted the offense.
„Our protection wasn’t that good right this moment,“ Ogunbowale mentioned after the sport. „On a day that we’re not likely hitting pictures, we now have to select it up on the defensive finish…I feel they had been actually guarding our first actions nicely, after which we simply received form of stagnant.“
Noticeably absent was No. 1 general decide Azzi Fudd, who scored three factors off the bench in her WNBA debut and missed tonight’s contest with a knee damage.
Regardless of a stable defensive effort, Dallas went chilly with the rock, received outrebounded, and misplaced the battle on the second-chance factors. Finally, Atlanta completed the outing on a 9-2 run over the ultimate 5 minutes.
The Dream will subsequent host the Wings in Atlanta on Friday, Might 22. The regular-season sequence will conclude in Dallas on Wednesday, July 29.
Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Employees Author at Ballislife.com, in addition to Director of Ballislife Bets. Observe her on X at @SaraJGamelli.
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