Put some respect on Angel Reese‘s name. After the Atlanta Dream‘s thrilling win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Reese put her name next to another record in the WNBA history book.
Only in her third year in the league, Angel Reese has become an unstoppable force, leading the WNBA in rebounds in 2024 and 2025 and recently becoming the fastest player in history to reach 50 career double-doubles in just 65 games. So, what else did she add to her resume?
Angel Reese Sets Another WNBA Record Following The Atlanta Dream’s Thrilling Win Over The Phoenix Mercury
In last night’s game against Alyssa Thomas and the Mercury, Reese recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Her stat line made her the fastest player in league history to reach 950 points and 850 rebounds, according to Real Sports and The Sporting News.
Reese’s latest accomplishment is just the latest honor to her name, per ESPN. In her rookie season, she became the first WNBA player to record 20 or more rebounds in consecutive games (three games), and also was the first rookie to record a double-double in a WNBA All-Star Game (12 points and 11 rebounds).
Adding to it, Reese was the fifth rookie in WNBA history to average a double-double and was the No. 2 all-time leading offensive rebounder for the Chicago Sky (295).
Angel Reese And The Atlanta Dream Appeared To Be Out Of The Game Before Their Comeback Win
The Mercury didn’t go out without a fight during yesterday’s contest. While the Dream’s star players, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and, of course, Reese, had an impressive showing, they pulled away with the win in the final seconds after trailing the first three quarters.
ESPN reported that the Dream, who are now 4-1 and hold the best record in the league, went on a 9-0 run in the span of 85 seconds to tie the game at 73 points. Moments later, Jordin Canada was fouled and converted a free throw to give the Dream the lead.
Angel Reese Hit With Technical Foul, Says She’s Practicing Controlling Her Emotions
Like the other matchups this WNBA season, the Atlanta Dream-Phoenix Mercury contest was laced with fouls. According to USA Today Sports, there were 35 total foul calls throughout the game.
Howard received three in the first quarter, and Mercury’s Natasha Mack had three by the end of the first half. Adding to the drama, there were two flagrant fouls and three technicals called, one of which went to a frustrated Reese, who was a bit vocal after tough play.
The Atlanta crowd inside The Gateway Center Arena @ College Park was also frustrated, screaming, “Ref, you suck!”
During the post-game interview, Reese opened up about the marks against her and her teammates, saying, “We practice a lot on controlling our emotions. I would probably give us a ‘C’ today. We didn’t do a great job.”
Reese joked, “We could have crashed out a little bit more,” adding, “We’re just continuing trying to control what we can control. We emphasize a lot on that … We’re gonna clean that up going into (our game on) Tuesday.”
Atlanta Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko Is Happy With His Team’s Performance
Dream head coach Karl Smesko had a different opinion on his team’s performance, saying he’d give the stacked roster of All-Stars “an A because we regrouped and found a way to win.”
While he was frustrated with the technical and flagrant fouls, he acknowledged his team’s intensity and will to win. “We’re competing. We do have to be able to manage our emotions so that we don’t give away any points at the line or make a hole any deeper,” he said.
Reese Traded To The Dream During Off-Season
For those who may be unfamiliar, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream in April 2026, per The Blast.
“This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” a member of the Sky’s front office said about the move. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.”