Angel Reese leads surging Dream for visit to skidding Sparks

Field Level Media|published: Wed 19th August, 20:16 2026

Aug 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts against the Indiana Fever during the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images

After an impressive road victory this week, the Atlanta Dream will carry some momentum into a visit to the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.

The Dream (22-13) opened a four-game road trip with a 97-82 victory over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday as Rhyne Howard scored 23 points and Angel Reese added 21 points with 10 rebounds.

Reese's 24th double-double of the season came in 39 minutes and was secured against Aces superstar A'ja Wilson.

"I just tried to let my defense lead to my offense," Reese said. "I know how good A'ja is so I was just trying to deflect as many passes I can, deny her, make her catches farther out. ... When we get 15 steals, it's a collective effort to come together and get this win."

Atlanta is 9-3 since July 13, a run that began with a 101-92 home victory over Los Angeles. The Dream play the Sparks twice on the road trip, then return to Atlanta for four of their last six regular-season games.

While Atlanta was in fifth place in the overall standings, heading into Wednesday's play, the Sparks (12-23) were in 12th and fading fast.

Los Angeles is 2-11 since its July 13 loss at Atlanta. A run of two victories in three games immediately after star guard Kelsey Plum was traded to the Phoenix Mercury has now turned into a five-game losing streak.

The Sparks will begin a four-game homestand following an 85-77 road loss to the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. Rae Burrell had 19 points with six assists and Nneka Ogwumike added 18 points with seven rebounds.

Ogwumike announced Wednesday that she will retire at the end of her 15th season.

"I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I've been able to play and compete at such a high level and I am proud to say that I'm retiring from the WNBA," Ogwumike said in an interview with Boardroom.

Plum's departure left Ogwumike as the team's leading scorer at 16.9 points per game. She also averages a team-best 8.7 rebounds.

While Cameron Brink leads Los Angeles with 1.7 blocks per game, she missed her second consecutive game Tuesday after she took a hit to the midsection during last Thursday's game at New York.

Erica Wheeler (ankle) and Monique Akoa Makani (ankle) also were out for the Sparks.

--Field Level Media

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