Atlanta Dream Beat Seattle Storm to End Losing Streak and Make History

Where and When Did This Happen?

On Thursday night in College Park, Georgia, the Atlanta Dream played a basketball game against the Seattle Storm. The Dream won with a score of 89-78! This win stopped them from losing five games in a row — something that hadn’t happened before this night.

The Star Players and Their Awesome Stats

In basketball, points are like score marks you get when you shoot the ball in the hoop. Rebounds are when you catch the ball after someone misses a shot. Here are the main players and what they did:

• Allisha Gray (Atlanta) scored 22 points. That’s a lot of baskets!
• Angel Reese (Atlanta) got 18 points and 11 rebounds. When a player gets 10 or more in two different categories like points and rebounds, we call it a double-double. She got her 15th double-double this season — the best in the whole league!
• Rhyne Howard (Atlanta) added 19 points. She made 4 out of 11 shots from the "three-point line" (a line far from the hoop where a basket counts as 3 points).
• For Seattle Storm:
  • Natisha Hiedeman led her team with 20 points.
  • Dominique Malonga had 15 points and 9 rebounds.
  • Flau’jae Johnson scored 12 points.
• Seattle had a season-high 21 turnovers. A turnover is when you accidentally give the ball to the other team.

Angel Reese’s Super Record and a Little Ouch

Angel Reese did something amazing. She passed a player named Tina Charles, who had 63 double-doubles in her first three years in the WNBA. Now Reese has the most double-doubles ever for a player in their first three seasons!

But later in the game, with 1 minute and 19 seconds left, Reese rolled her right ankle and needed help to leave the court. We hope she feels better soon!

How the Game Played Out (Step by Step)

1. In the middle of the third part of the game (called the third quarter), Angel Reese helped Atlanta get ahead by a score of 68-48.
2. In the final part (the fourth quarter), Atlanta always stayed at least 8 points ahead of Seattle.
3. At the end, the final score was 89-78 for Atlanta.
4. This was Atlanta’s first win since June 22, and they improved their record to 13 wins and 9 losses (13-9). Seattle’s record is now 6 wins and 18 losses (6-18).

Fun Extra Facts and Special Guests

• Atlanta’s team got 14 or more steals (taking the ball away from the other team) for the third game in a row. Seattle only made 3 out of 20 shots from the three-point line.
• A special guest was there: Kim Mulkey, who is the coach of the LSU women’s college basketball team. She came to watch her former players, Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson, play in the pro league.

Important: Atlanta ended a five-game losing streak with this win! Also, Angel Reese broke a big record for double-doubles. And remember, a double-double means 10+ in two stats — Reese is really good at that!

What Happens Next for the Teams?

• Seattle Storm will play at Washington on Sunday.
• Atlanta Dream will host Portland on Saturday.

Summary

The Atlanta Dream played well and beat the Seattle Storm 89-78 in Georgia. Allisha Gray scored 22, Angel Reese got a double-double and broke a record, and Rhyne Howard helped with 19 points. Seattle had many turnovers and missed many far shots. The win stopped Atlanta’s losing streak, and a famous college coach watched the game. Next up, Seattle goes to Washington, and Atlanta hosts Portland.

FAQ

Q: What is a double-double in basketball?
A: It’s when a player gets 10 or more in two different good stats, like points and rebounds, in one game. It shows they did great in two ways.

Q: What is the WNBA?
A: WNBA stands for Women’s National Basketball Association. It’s a group of teams where the best women basketball players in the USA play professionally.

Q: What does “turnover” mean?
A: A turnover happens when a team loses the ball to the other team without taking a shot, like slipping or passing badly.

Q: Who is Tina Charles?
A: She is a WNBA player who previously held the record for most double-doubles (63) in a player’s first three seasons. Angel Reese just passed her.

Q: Where can I learn more about the WNBA?
A: You can visit the Associated Press WNBA page: AP WNBA News