Allisha Gray poured in 26 points and Angel Reese hauled in 16 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream edged the Dallas Wings 77-72, a Tuesday-night matchup that left players and fans buzzing in both Atlanta and Dallas. Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard provided steady offense for Atlanta while Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers tried to lift the Wings, who were missing rookie Azzi Fudd. Brionna Jones sat out for Atlanta with a right knee issue, and Reese’s line included a handful of offensive boards that flipped momentum late.
Atlanta’s offense leaned hard on Gray and Canada from tip to finish, and it showed in the box score. Gray’s 26 points were efficient and decisive, landing big shots when the Dream needed them most. Jordin Canada chipped in with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, doing the little things that kept Atlanta in control.
Angel Reese turned in a physical performance on the glass, finishing with 12 points and 16 rebounds for her 51st career double-double. Her eight offensive rebounds stood out — one more than Dallas managed as a team — and those extra possessions were a big reason Atlanta could manufacture second-chance points. At 24 years old, Reese has already reached milestones most players only dream about, becoming the second youngest WNBA player to notch 50 career double-doubles behind Tina Charles.
The Dream’s bench barely registered, scoring just five points in the game, which magnified how much Atlanta relied on its starters. Brionna Jones did not play because of a right knee issue, and her absence put extra minutes and responsibility on the front line. Atlanta still found a way to grind out rebounds and late baskets, showing a toughness that bodes well for the early part of the season.
Dallas got solid work from its own core, though it couldn’t close the gap in the final minutes. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 20 points, and Paige Bueckers added 15, combining to keep Dallas within striking distance. Jessica Shepard chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds, providing rebounding and interior defense that kept the Wings competitive through three quarters.
The matchup took on an extra layer because Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, didn’t play due to a right knee injury. Her absence was noticeable, particularly in moments when Dallas needed fresh ball-handling and perimeter shooting to push a comeback. Still, Dallas displayed early promise by holding a halftime lead for the second straight game, a small victory in itself given how often they fell behind last season.
Momentum swung in the fourth quarter when Canada buried a contested 3-pointer with 3:34 left, capping Atlanta’s 15-6 run and stretching the lead to 73-65. That sequence summed up the game: scrappy rebounds, clutch shot-making, and timely defense. From that point Atlanta tightened up and did enough to preserve the win, even with their bench struggling to contribute points.
The game feels like a snapshot of two teams at different stages but both capable of making noise. Atlanta starts 2-0, riding a mix of veteran savvy and Reese’s relentless rebounding, while Dallas shows flashes of being a tougher team than last year despite injury questions. Fans in both cities will have plenty to watch as the season unfolds and as everyone waits on the health updates for Brionna Jones and Azzi Fudd.
