Angel Reese receives pregame recognition
Angel Reese received recognition before Atlanta’s September 27 playoff opener against Washington after winning the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and earning All-AP Second Team honors alongside Rhyne Howard.
Head coach Karl Smesko announced the honors during pregame preparation, briefly pausing Atlanta’s routine. The moment singled out Reese before she made her first WNBA playoff appearance later that evening.
Angel Reese wins AP defensive honor
Reese became the first Atlanta Dream player to win the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. She led the WNBA in rebounding at 12.1 per game during the regular season.
Her first Atlanta season included 43 appearances, 32 double-doubles, and league records for total rebounds and offensive rebounds. Reese also averaged 1.8 steals per game, ranking third in the league.
Atlanta Dream celebrates Reese and Howard
Atlanta shared a pregame video showing Smesko announcing honors for Reese and Rhyne Howard. The team’s message playfully apologized to Reese while insisting both players deserved recognition before postseason play.
Reese and Howard became Atlanta’s first teammates selected to an All-AP team in one season. Both earned Second Team honors after Atlanta finished 30-14 and secured the No. 4 seed.
Rhyne Howard shares the pregame spotlight
Rhyne Howard joined Reese on the All-AP Second Team before Atlanta’s playoff opener. The Dream guard averaged 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 43 games.
Howard tied the WNBA single-season record with 100 steals and set another league mark with 134 made 3-pointers. Those achievements gave Atlanta another honoree before Sunday’s Game 1 against Washington.
Angel Reese records 500 rebounds
Reese became the first player in WNBA history to collect 500 rebounds during one regular season. She also established league single-season records for total rebounds and offensive rebounds in 2026.
Her work on the glass helped Atlanta match a franchise record with 30 victories. The Dream finished 30-14, secured the fourth seed, and earned home-court advantage for the opening round.
Angel Reese sets double-double record
Reese finished the regular season with a WNBA record 32 double-doubles. Her season also included a league-record 26 rebounds against Los Angeles on August 24, another historic mark for Atlanta.
That 26-rebound performance surpassed the previous single-game record of 24 set by Chamique Holdsclaw in 2003. Reese reached the new mark while helping Atlanta defeat Los Angeles that August night.
Angel Reese arrives in Atlanta by trade
Atlanta acquired Reese from the Chicago Sky on April 6, 2026. The Dream sent first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 to Chicago as the main pieces of the trade package.
Atlanta also received the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028. The move brought Reese to the Dream after two seasons with the Sky, where she established her role.
Angel Reese earns third All-Star selection
Reese earned a reserve spot in the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, marking her third selection in three professional seasons. It was her first All-Star appearance while representing the Atlanta Dream.
Atlanta placed three players among the reserves, with Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard joining Reese. The trio later helped the Dream reach 30 regular-season victories and secure the fourth seed.
Angel Reese wears mask before playoffs
Reese wore a protective mask during warmups before the playoff opener after leaving Atlanta’s regular-season finale against New York with a nose injury. She played 17 minutes before exiting early.
Reese received clearance to return and started against Washington on September 27. Her availability restored Atlanta’s leading rebounder for a series against Washington, which led the WNBA in team rebounding.
Angel Reese posts debut double-double
Reese recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds in her WNBA playoff game as Atlanta defeated Washington 92-77. She added two steals, one block, and three offensive rebounds across 30 minutes.
She made four of 15 field-goal attempts while contributing on the glass and defensively. Atlanta received 26 points from Rhyne Howard and 22 from Allisha Gray in the home victory.
Fun fact: Reese became the first WNBA player with back-to-back 20-rebound games, then made it three straight because apparently two was not enough.
Atlanta Dream flips the third quarter
Atlanta trailed Washington 41-36 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. The Dream outscored the Mystics 29-12 and entered the fourth period with a 65-53 lead on Sunday.
Washington’s third-quarter turnovers produced 14 points for Atlanta. The surge erased an earlier 11-point deficit and helped the Dream secure a 92-77 victory in Game 1 of the series.
Rhyne Howard leads playoff opener
Howard scored 26 points and recorded five steals in Atlanta’s Game 1 victory over Washington. Allisha Gray added 22 points, while DeWanna Bonner contributed 13 from the bench for Atlanta.
The Dream forced 22 Washington turnovers and scored 27 points from those possessions. Atlanta finished with 16 steals, setting a franchise playoff record while taking a 1-0 series lead Sunday.
In other news, learn about how tall a man needs to be to date Angel Reese.
Atlanta Dream advances to the semifinals
Atlanta swept Washington 2-0 in the best-of-three first-round series after winning Game 1 on September 27 and Game 2, 93-75, on September 30 at CareFirst Arena.
The Dream advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 and are scheduled to host the New York Liberty in Game 1 on October 4. Reese finished Game 2 with 15 points and seven rebounds as Atlanta completed the series sweep.
Angel Reese cleared after a hard foul, as Ionescu faces an automatic fine, explains the incident that led to Reese wearing a protective mask.
Angel Reese entered the playoffs with a defensive award, rebounding records, and a debut double-double. Which part of her 2026 season impressed you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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