Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 19

Atlanta Dream Beat Indiana Fever 108-101 as 17 Turnovers Spoil Caitlin Clark's 26

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 19

Atlanta Dream Beat Indiana Fever 108-101 as 17 Turnovers Spoil Caitlin Clark's 26

Q: Does Angel Reese's dominance make the Dream the top title contender?

Angel Reese’s dominance makes Atlanta a legitimate contender, but not clearly the WNBA’s top title favorite yet. Reese has changed the Dream’s ceiling. She is leading the league in rebounding, is among the players averaging a double-double, and delivered again against Indiana with 21 points, 11 rebounds and the late and-one that sealed a 108-101 win. Her interior presence fits a team that already rebounded at an elite level and now owns one of the league’s better defensive profiles, including the No. 2 defensive rating and No. 3 scoring defense. What strengthens Atlanta’s case is that this is not a one-player surge. In the win over the Fever, all five starters scored at least 16 points, with Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard giving the Dream proven perimeter scoring around Reese. Atlanta is 10-4, protects the ball well, and looks more balanced than many rivals. Still, “top contender” requires more proof against the very best. The Dream recently lost 104-90 to the Liberty, and that game exposed some concerns, including shooting inconsistency and the challenge of beating elite teams consistently. Brionna Jones’ knee injury also affects depth and frontcourt stability. So Reese’s impact has absolutely pushed Atlanta into the championship conversation. But based on the current evidence, the Dream look more like part of the top tier rather than the single team to beat. New York still has the stronger claim until Atlanta proves it can consistently win these marquee matchups.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 19

Atlanta erased Indiana's late push and closed out a 108-101 road win, with Angel Reese finishing 21 points and 11 rebounds and converting an and-one layup with 23 seconds left.
Seventeen Fever turnovers swung the game, including a brutal late giveaway that led to an easy Atlanta fast-break basket after Indiana had rallied to tie it in the fourth quarter.
Caitlin Clark scored 26 points with seven assists in her Nike signature-shoe debut, while Kelsey Mitchell added 26 and hit her 700th career 3-pointer and Aliyah Boston scored 23.
Atlanta's balanced starting five drove the result: every starter scored at least 16 points, and Jordin Canada, Naz Hillmon, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard combined with Reese for 89 points.
The win lifted the Dream to 10-4 and dropped the Fever to 9-6, underscoring how Indiana's ball security could limit a team that still has elite scoring firepower.