Angel Reese's rebounding comments after becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900 points and 900 rebounds in Atlanta's 86-66 win.
Angel Reese had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Atlanta Dream beat the Portland Fire 86-66 on Friday at Moda Center, with her 12th rebound becoming the 900th of her career and making her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900 points and 900 rebounds. She got there in her 71st game and is also the fastest to 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 in both categories.
Reese shot 6-of-14 from the field, missed all 3 of her 3-point attempts, and went 6-of-7 at the free throw line, with 5 of her rebounds coming on the offensive end. Rhyne Howard added 14 points, 6 steals, and 4 assists, going 5-of-11 with 4 of her 7 3-point attempts. Naz Hillmon scored 14 with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. Allisha Gray added 13 points and made all 4 of her free throws, and Jordin Canada had 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Dream (5-2) forced 28 turnovers and scored 33 points off them.
The game followed Atlanta's 96-81 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, in which Reese had 10 points and 8 rebounds on 3-of-8 shooting. Atlanta played without center Brionna Jones, who sat out with a sore right knee.
Reese said she made rebounding a priority after the loss to the Lynx, when she did not rebound well on either end.
"Rebounds are something that I can always rely on, no matter how the game is going," Reese said. "I knew tonight that I was going to get a lot of offensive rebounds, and I think last game I didn't do a great job getting offensive rebounds or even defensive rebounds. So I wanted to take pride in that tonight and going in there and getting those extra second-chance points, but also opportunities for my teammates to kick out on the three."
Atlanta led 16-14 after the first quarter and 38-31 at halftime. The Dream took a 59-53 lead into the fourth quarter before outscoring Portland 27-13 in the final period, building an advantage that reached 23. Atlanta shot 44.1% from the field, outrebounded the Fire 29-23, and held a 10-2 edge in fast-break points. The Dream scored 42 points in the paint and added 16 second-chance points. The game featured 4 lead changes and 3 ties.
Sarah Ashlee Barker scored 14 points off the bench for Portland, and Carla Leite added 11 with 4 assists. Emily Engstler had 10 points and 3 blocks, and Megan Gustafson scored 10 off the bench with 5 rebounds. Holly Winterburn finished with 7 assists. The Fire (5-4) shot 44.6% but went 9-of-27 from 3-point range and committed 28 turnovers.
It was the 53rd double-double of Reese's career. She has recorded one in 74.6% of her games.
The Fire hosts the Indiana Fever on Saturday. The Dream return home to face the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
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