Angel Reese shone with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 99-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, securing a playoff spot for Atlanta. Notable contributions came from Rhyne Howard with 20 points, while Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada added 17 and 12 points, respectively. The Dream's win marks their fifth victory in six games, positioning them ahead of Indiana for the fourth seed in the playoffs. Kahleah Copper's 38 points were not enough for the Mercury, who were eliminated from playoff contention. Reese is now three double-doubles shy of the league record, having set a new franchise record this season.

By the Numbers
  • Angel Reese: 31 points, 14 rebounds for her 25th double-double of the season.
  • Kahleah Copper: 38 points for the Mercury, who are now 13-24.
Yes, But

While Reese's performance propelled the Dream into the playoff picture, the Mercury's elimination highlights their significant drop from being last season's WNBA Finals contenders.

State of Play
  • The Atlanta Dream improved to 24-13, clinching a playoff berth with seven games remaining.
  • Phoenix Mercury鈥檚 loss marked their exit from playoff contention, dropping their record to 13-24.
What's Next

The Dream will conclude their West Coast road trip with a game against Los Angeles on Monday, while the Mercury are set to host Washington for two consecutive games early next week.

Bottom Line

The Atlanta Dream's strong performance, led by Angel Reese, not only secures their playoff spot but also sets a promising trajectory for the remainder of the season, while the Mercury face a challenging offseason ahead.