Reese scores career high as Dream beat Mercury; Phoenix eliminated from playoff contention

Kahleah Copper had 38 points for the Mercury, who were in the WNBA Finals last season, but were eliminated from the playoff chase with the loss.

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aug 23, 2026, 7:27 AM Updated: Aug 24, 2026, 1:04 pm

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COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA - MAY 24: Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury looks to pass the ball as Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream plays defense during the second quarter at Gateway Center Arena on May 24, 2026 in College Park, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

PHOENIX (AP) — Angel Reese scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for her 25th double-double of the season and the Atlanta Dream clinched a playoff berth with a 99-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday night.

Rhyne Howard added 20 points, Allisha Gray had 17 and Jordin Canada 12 for the Dream (24-13), who have won five of their last six games. They moved a half-game ahead of Indiana, which lost earlier in night, for the fourth seed, with seven games to go for Atlanta.

Kahleah Copper had 38 points for the Mercury (13-24), who were in the WNBA Finals last season, but were eliminated from the playoff chase with the loss.

MY. GOODNESS. KAH. 🔥

Copper is going OFF here in the 3Q, marking 18 PTS in this quarter alone!

31 PTS | 3 3PM

ATL-PHX | League Pass
Tap to watch: https://t.co/R3dp27jefw pic.twitter.com/xi7I9wYLjd

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 23, 2026

Alyssa Thomas had her 22nd regular-season triple-double with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Thomas also has six triple-doubles in the playoffs. DeWanna Bonner added 12 points.

MAKE THAT HER THIRD TRIPLE DOUBLE THIS SZN 🤑

With this bucket, Alyssa Thomas reeled in her third triple double of the szn here in the 4Q!

11 PTS | 14 REB | 10 AST

ATL-PHX | League Pass
Tap to watch: https://t.co/R3dp27jefw pic.twitter.com/hlcnO1WYq9

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 23, 2026

Reese, a 43% shooter for the season, was 14 of 21 from the field after going 9 of 9 the previous game. Her previous career high for points was 27 in 2024 when she was a rookie with Chicago. She has set the Atlanta single-season record for double-doubles and is three shy of the league record.

Angel Reese records her career-best in PTS 🚨

Angel Reese recorded a career-high 31 PTS, passing her previous best of 27 PTS!

In this win for the @AtlantaDream, Reese also notched her 26th double-double of the season, matching her personal best and tying for the second-most… pic.twitter.com/7cZ9DyzjvM

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 23, 2026

Howard hit four 3-pointers as the Dream led 14-3 less than four minutes into the game. Atlanta led 29-18 after one quarter and 50-35 at the half.

With Copper scoring 18 points in the third quarter the Mercury got within one point before the Dream took a 73-68 lead into the fourth quarter. Phoenix made 13 of 22 shots in the third quarter after making just 10 of 29 in the first half.