LAS VEGAS — Angel Reese finished with 22 points and 21 rebounds. The Atlanta Dream beat the Las Vegas Aces 97-82. A’ja Wilson shot 7-of-19. Becky Hammon got ejected.
The stat line was the third 20-20 game of Reese’s career. It was her first against a top-tier Western Conference contender. Nine of her rebounds were offensive, producing 14 second-chance points for Atlanta. She shot 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line, adding three steals and two blocks. Her plus/minus was a season-high plus-24.
Wilson entered as the league’s leading MVP candidate, averaging 27.3 points and 11.8 rebounds. Against the Dream, she managed 18 points, eight rebounds and four turnovers. Reese outrebounded her by 13. The Aces’ offense stalled whenever Wilson was doubled.
The turning point came with 4:32 left in the third quarter. Wilson drove and was fouled. No whistle. Atlanta converted a fast-break layup, extending the lead to 11. Hammon sprinted onto the court, screaming at referee Brenda Pringle. Two quick technicals. Ejection. Her third career ejection and first since 2023.
Hammon did not apologize post-game. “You cannot miss that call. That’s a four-point swing in a game we needed. I’d do it again to protect my players.”
Atlanta led 28-19 after the first quarter. Reese grabbed eight rebounds in the opening 10 minutes. The Aces shot 32 percent in the first half; their bench contributed six points before halftime. Las Vegas cut the deficit to five in the third, but the ejection derailed their momentum. The Dream closed the period on a 14-2 run.
The fourth quarter was 28-19 Atlanta. Reese and Rhyne Howard (24 points) combined for 16 of those. The Dream’s bench outscored the Aces’ bench 32-12.
The win improved Atlanta to 19-14, solidifying the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Aces dropped to 23-10, still second in the West. Their other three starters combined for 22 points. Las Vegas’ nine-game home winning streak is over.
| Player | PTS | REB | FG | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reese | 22 | 21 | 9-18 | 4-4 | +24 |
| Wilson | 18 | 8 | 7-19 | 4-5 | -19 |
This was the seventh 20-20 game in the WNBA this season. Reese now leads the league in rebounds per game at 12.4. Wilson’s night won’t eliminate her from the MVP race, but it opens the door for Reese as a dark-horse candidate.
The highlight of the night came in the third quarter. Reese grabbed an offensive rebound over two Aces defenders and kicked it out to Allisha Gray for a corner three. Wilson’s frustration peaked in the final minute, drawing a flagrant foul on Reese and a subsequent technical. Teammates held her back.
#Reese20_20 trended nationally. ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike tweeted: “Angel Reese just played the best game of her career. Period. That was a grown-woman performance against the defending champs.” Hammon’s post-game press conference has been viewed over two million times.
The Dream shot 39 percent from the field, and head coach Tanisha Wright’s defensive scheme limited the Aces to 39 percent shooting overall. Atlanta’s 15-point margin was their largest over a top-two seed since 2021.
Reese didn’t just beat the Aces. She outplayed Wilson in every statistical category that matters. The final box score will be referenced in every playoff preview until these teams potentially meet in the Finals.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What were Angel Reese’s final stats in the game against the Aces?
- A: Reese finished with 22 points, 21 rebounds (9 offensive), 3 steals, 2 blocks, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, with a season-high plus-minus of +24.
- Q: How did A’ja Wilson perform against Angel Reese?
- A: Wilson, the league’s leading MVP candidate, managed only 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 turnovers on 7-of-19 shooting, being outrebounded by Reese by 13 boards.
- Q: Why was Becky Hammon ejected during the game?
- A: Hammon was ejected after receiving two quick technical fouls for storming onto the court to protest a missed foul call on A’ja Wilson with 4:32 left in the third quarter, which she believed caused a four-point swing.
Extended Reading
Coverage of the game was aggregated from Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports reporting on the Aug. 18 contest at T-Mobile Arena.