Reese’s WNBA-record 30th double-double of the season powers Dream past Sun

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Angel Reese scored 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and had 10 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream rout the Connecticut Sun 103-59 on Thursday night in the first WNBA game following a nearly three-week break for the FIBA World Cup.

A key member of the winning U.S. team in Germany, Reese reached 30 points on a free throw with 5:38 remaining and grabbed her 10th rebound a few seconds later for her WNBA-record 30th double-double of the season. She finished a point shy of her career high, playing 25 minutes in the blowout for the playoff-bound Dream.

Rhyne Howard set a WNBA season record with 129 3-pointers. She made her only 3-pointer of the game — in nine attempts — with 6:45 left in the fourth to break Sabrina Ionescu’s record set in 2023 — reaching the mark in just 40 games.

Howard finished with 10 points. Allisha Gray also had 10 for Atlanta (27-14) to break her own franchise record for points in a season with 782.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa led Connecticut (10-31) with 13 points — all in the first half. Connecticut was outscored 31-11 in the third and 27-13 in the fourth.

WINGS 97, SPARKS 77

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored 19 points, Jessica Shepard had her fifth triple-double of the season with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and Dallas beat Los Angeles for its fifth straight victory.

Both teams were returning from the break for the FIBA World Cup in Germany, where Bueckers helped lead the United States to the title.

Dallas (25-16) tied the franchise record for wins in a season set by the 2003 WNBA champion Detroit Shock (25-9). The Wings have three games remaining in the regular season.

Shepard has the third-most triple-doubles in a season in WNBA history, trailing Alyssa Thomas’ six in the 2023 and eight in 2025.

Maddy Siegrist added 12 points and Arike Ogunbowale had 11 for Dallas. Kitija Laksa and Aziaha James each scored 10 off the bench. Odyssey Sims did not play in the fourth quarter after injuring her right knee late in the third.

Nneka Ogwumike scored 18 points to lead Los Angeles (12-26). Dearica Hamby added 14 points and Rae Burrell had 12.

MYSTICS 110, SKY 80

CHICAGO (AP) — Shakira Austin scored 20 points, Kiki Iriafen finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Washington beat Chicago.

The Mystics (25-16), tied with Dallas for sixth in the WNBA standings, moved a half-game ahead of New York. The top four have home court advantage in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs, which begin Sept. 27.

Courtney Vandersloot led Chicago with 14 points and Sydney Taylor scored 12. Kamilla Cardoso and Gabriela Jaquez each added 10 points.

Iriafen, who had her 21st double-double this season, grabbed four offensive rebounds to set a franchise single-season record with 115.

Austin made a layup in the opening minute to break Washington’s single-season scoring record. The 6-foot-5 center went into the game with 657 points this season, which tied the previous mark set by Sonia Citron in 2025.

Georgia Amoore and Michaela Onyenwere added 12 points apiece and Cotie McMahon scored 11 for the Mystics. Citron (personal reasons) did not play.

ACES 114, STORM 77

SEATTLE (AP) — Jackie Young tied the WNBA record for points in a quarter with 22 in the first and finished with a career-high 35, and Las Vegas beat Seattle.

The Aces (28-13) are 1 1/2 games behind second-place Golden State, and a game in front of Atlanta, in the WNBA standings. The top four have home-court advantage in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs.

A’ja Wilson scored 29 points for the Aces. Las Vegas had its highest-scoring game since it set franchise’s record in a 118-95 win over Atlanta on July 4, 2021.

Young tied the quarter mark shared by Jewell Loyd, Brittney Sykes and Diana Taurasi. Picked No. 1 overall in the 2019 draft, Young was 8 of 9 from the field, 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 3 of 3 on free throws.

Flau’jae Johnson led Seattle with 25 points and Natisha Hiedeman added 12 points and seven assists. Stefanie Dolson scored 11 points and Dominique Malonga 10.

MERCURY 94, FIRE 91

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Shay Ciezki had 22 points off the bench and Phoenix rallied in the fourth quarter for a victory over Portland.

Emily Engstler had 21 points and five 3-pointers for the expansion Fire, who have lost five of their last six. Holly Winterburn added 18 points.

Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Fire (16-25) were without Carla Leite, who won the silver medal with France at the World Cup, as well as Megan DiLeo, who played for third-place Spain. Frieda Buhner, with hosts Germany, and Amy Okonkwo, captain of Nigeria, played.

The Mercury (15-26) were without Kahleah Cooper, who won gold with the United States, along with Valeriane Ayayi (France) and Kyara Linskens (Belgium). The Mercury was also missing Kelsey Plum, who has a left calf injury.