Angel Reese drops 31 points as Dream clinch playoff spot

Two days after a perfect shooting night, Angel Reese exploded for a personal best of 31 points, propelling the Atlanta Dream to a 99-89 road win over the Phoenix Mercury. Atlanta built an early lead, saw Phoenix close the gap in the third quarter, but Reese answered with 15 fourth-quarter points to seal the victory. The result clinched the Dream's fifth playoff berth, positioning them fourth in the league at 24-13 with a game in hand.

Phoenix's stars Kahleah Copper tallied 38 points and Alyssa Thomas notched a triple-double while hitting her 5,000th career point, yet the Mercury remain 12th and already eliminated. The win follows Atlanta's recent franchise-record scoring display against the Los Angeles Sparks, highlighting a strong late-season surge.