WNBA Recaps: Double Trouble Reese Returns and a Twin-Engine Shootout in Minnesota

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Monday night saw the return of the double-double queen and a team effort that saw the Atlanta Dream hold off a game Los Sparks team. In Minnesota, the Lynx had to do the same, holding off a Mercury team that came to play.

Here is your detailed, stat-heavy breakdown of everything that went down on the hardwood last night.

Monday Night WNBA Scoreboard

Away Team	Score	Home Team	Score	Key Takeaway
Los Angeles Sparks (10-12)	92	Atlanta Dream (14-10)	101	Angel Reese returns to log her league-leading 16th double-double.
Phoenix Mercury (8-17)	100	Minnesota Lynx (18-6)	104	McBride and Miles combine for 70 PTS in an offensive clinic.

Atlanta Dream 101, Los Angeles Sparks 92

The Barbie Effect: Reese Shatters Resistance in Triumphant Return

After sitting out Saturday’s contest in a walking boot, Angel Reese stepped back onto the floor at the Gateway Center Arena and looked completely unbothered by her recent ankle scare. Reese spearheaded a furious fourth-quarter push to lift the Atlanta Dream past the Los Angeles Sparks, 101-92, snapping a slump that had seen the Dream drop six of their last seven games.

The short-handed Sparks—still missing the interior presence of Cameron Brink (ankle) and the elite perimeter scoring of Kelsey Plum (leg)—refused to go quietly. Backed by 20 points from Erica Wheeler and 19 points from Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles clawed their way into a back-and-forth battle. When Dearica Hamby dropped a driving layup with 4:21 remaining in the game, the Sparks seized an 87-85 lead, threatening to spoil the homecoming.

That was when Atlanta’s veteran synergy took over. Allisha Gray instantly answered with a tough bucket to tie the game at 87-all. On the next possession, Reese caught the ball on the perimeter and banked in a friendly roll on a crucial three-pointer—just her third of the season—to put Atlanta ahead 90-87. Reese tacked on two free throws moments later, and a Jordin Canada bucket capped a definitive 9-0 run from which the Sparks could never recover. Reese was exceptionally efficient, going 7-of-11 from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Atlanta Dream Stats: Angel Reese (23 PTS, 13 REB), Allisha Gray (20 PTS), Jordin Canada (16 PTS, 9 AST), Rhyne Howard (11 PTS, 5 REB).
Los Angeles Sparks Stats: Erica Wheeler (20 PTS, 4 AST), Nneka Ogwumike (19 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST), Rae Burrell (18 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST).

Minnesota Lynx 104, Phoenix Mercury 100

Twin Engines: McBride and Miles Best the Mercury in an Instant Classic

If you appreciate elite offensive execution, the Target Center was the center of the basketball universe on Monday. The Minnesota Lynx outlasted the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 in an absolute thriller characterized by 23 lead changes and 13 ties, with both squads shooting an identical, blistering 56% from the field.

The headline belonged to the unstoppable backcourt tandem of Kayla McBride and rookie phenom Olivia Miles. McBride put on a pure shooting clinic, dropping a season-high 37 points while draining six three-pointers. Not to be outdone, Miles authored a masterful game of her own, recording a career-high 33 points alongside 8 assists.

WNBA History Made: With her stat line last night, Olivia Miles became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, shattering the league record by achieving the feat in a mere 22 career games.

Phoenix threw everything they had at the Western Conference leaders. Kahleah Copper was electric with 26 points, and Alyssa Thomas neared a triple-double with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists. DeWanna Bonner tied the game at 98-98 with a clutch jumper with 1:05 remaining.

But just as she has all season, McBride delivered when the lights were brightest, drilling her sixth triple of the night with 45.1 seconds left to give Minnesota a permanent 101-98 lead. Miles then drove the lane and dropped a precision pass to Natasha Howard for a baseline layup with 21 seconds on the clock to seal the Lynx’s third consecutive victory.

Minnesota Lynx Stats: Kayla McBride (37 PTS, 11-17 FG, 6-1 3PT), Olivia Miles (33 PTS, 8 AST), Natasha Howard (13 PTS, 7 AST).
Phoenix Mercury Stats: Kahleah Copper (26 PTS, 9-14 FG), Alyssa Thomas (19 PTS, 12 AST, 8 REB), DeWanna Bonner (17 PTS), Monique Akoa Makani (17 PTS).