Editor’s note: this is the first piece from new staff writer Micahya Costen. She’ll be contributing to our Atlanta Dream and Atlanta Hawks coverage. Please give her a warm welcome as we’re excited for her to join our team at Peachtree Hoops.
The comeback kids did it again.
In a back-and-forth matchup that looked promising for the Chicago Sky to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season, the Atlanta Dream rallied late to secure an 82-75 victory Tuesday night, improving to 8-3 overall and 4-2
on the road.
The Sky made their presence known early, leading at halftime and maintaining the pace for much of the night. Had it not been for Atlanta’s defensive effort and a late offensive surge, the outcome could have very well gone in Chicago’s favor.
All five of Atlanta’s starters finished the night in double figures.
The biggest storyline entering Tuesday’s matchup was Angel Reese’s return to Chicago and how she would perform against her former team.
Reese delivered, recording her 57th career double-double — the most through 75 games in WNBA history — with 17 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and two steals. She also became the first player in Dream history to record 17 or more rebounds in consecutive games.
Reese said after the game that the victory meant more to her than the individual milestones.
“I was able to get a lot of double-doubles my first two years, but it feels good when you get a win. So, I’m really happy to be with the Dream, I’m really excited. And we continue to march on for this Commissioner’s Cup,” Reese said.
Rhyne Howard, who added 17 points, three rebounds and five assists, reached another milestone of her own, becoming the youngest player in WNBA history to record 2,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocks, surpassing marks previously held by legends Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore.
Naz Hillmon joined all of Atlanta’s starters in double figures, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds, while Allisha Gray scored seven of her 14 points in the third quarter and added four rebounds. Jordin Canada contributed 14 points and six assists.
Capitalizing on second-chance opportunities, Reese’s offensive rebound with a little more than two minutes remaining led to a Hillmon layup that sparked the Dream’s 9-0 run. Atlanta eventually built its largest lead of the night at 10 points.
It was then that the momentum shifted and the Dream took advantage of the Sky’s seven of their 16 turnovers just in the quarter alone.
“We’re not going to let anybody take us out of what we’re trying to get to,” Hillmon said when asked about the team’s mindset during the late surge. “And making sure down the stretch, the biggest thing is always going to be our defense. And if we can get stops, we’ll figure out how to get some offense.”
“I think that’s the thing about our team, is that we always seem to find a way. And we’re going to continue to take shots,” Naz Hillmon said, “…we really pride ourselves on figuring it out, whether it’s inside out or outside in, or whatever’s working that night, just figuring it out and continuing to go in that direction.”
For Chicago, Skylar Diggins finished with 17 points and three rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso added 13 points, two rebounds and five assists, while Azura Stevens added eight points and seven rebounds. Jacy Sheldon chipped in six points and three assists to close out the night.
The Dream returns home on Thursday, June 11, to face the New York Liberty (8-4) for the first time this season at 7:30 p.m. EST with hopes of continuing to climb the rankings in their fifth Commissioner’s Cup matchup.
