The Atlanta Dream made headlines this week by adding DeWanna Bonner, and understandably so.
But as Atlanta prepares for its playoff run, there is another development that might be even more important:
Angel Reese is playing some of the best basketball of her career at exactly the right time.
Reese just put together one of the most ridiculous rebounding performances the WNBA has seen, grabbing 26 rebounds in Atlanta’s 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks and setting a new single-game league record.
And I think we’re reaching the point where we need to start looking at Reese differently.
She’s not simply Atlanta’s elite rebounder anymore.
She could be one of the players who determines how far this team goes in the playoffs.
Reese Is Starting to Put Everything Together
The rebounding has always been there.
But what has impressed me lately is everything happening around the rebounding.
Just before her record-setting performance against Los Angeles, Reese dropped a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds against Phoenix in the game that officially clinched Atlanta’s playoff berth.
That’s what makes her recent stretch so encouraging.
We’re not just talking about someone collecting rebounds and creating second-chance opportunities anymore. We’re starting to see a more complete offensive player.
Her touch around the basket is improving. Her confidence is improving. She’s becoming more comfortable within Karl Smesko’s offense.
And when you combine that development with her elite rebounding ability, Reese becomes extremely difficult to deal with.
Atlanta Doesn’t Need Reese to Score 30 Every Night
This is also why I love how this Dream roster is constructed.
Atlanta doesn’t need Reese to become its leading scorer.
The Dream already have Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard capable of carrying significant portions of the perimeter offense. Now Atlanta has added Bonner as another veteran scoring option.
If you haven’t already, read more about what the DeWanna Bonner signing means for the Atlanta Dream and why adding another experienced veteran could be so important for Atlanta in the postseason.
That depth allows Reese to dominate games without needing 20 shots.
Give Atlanta 15 points, 15 rebounds, multiple offensive rebounds and strong defense from Reese in a playoff game?
That’s potentially enough to completely change a series.
Every offensive rebound she grabs creates another possession for Howard, Gray or Bonner. It’s another open three, another opportunity at the rim and another chance to wear down the opposing frontcourt.
That’s playoff basketball.
The Dream Are Peaking at the Right Time
Atlanta isn’t simply heading toward the postseason hoping to compete.
This roster looks increasingly built to make some noise once it gets there.
The Dream have stars. They have shooting. They have defensive versatility. And now they’ve added one of the most experienced postseason players in the WNBA in Bonner.
Then you add what Reese has been doing lately, and my expectations for this team continue to rise.
Simply making the playoffs shouldn’t be the goal anymore.
This team should expect to advance.
Reese Could Be Atlanta’s Playoff Advantage
There are plenty of great players Atlanta could see in the postseason.
But how many teams have someone who can completely dominate the possession battle like Reese?
That’s where I think she becomes one of Atlanta’s biggest X-factors.
Playoff games slow down. Possessions become more valuable. Half-court offense becomes harder, and shots don’t fall as easily.
When that happens, having someone capable of consistently generating extra possessions becomes an enormous advantage.
Reese doesn’t necessarily have to be Atlanta’s best scorer to become one of its most impactful postseason players.
She just has to keep doing what she’s doing.
Final Thoughts
There has been plenty of attention surrounding the Dream lately.
The Bonner signing. The playoff berth. The roster moves.
But one of the biggest developments might be happening right in front of us.
Angel Reese is getting better.
The rebounding is already elite. But if her offensive development continues and Reese enters the postseason playing this confidently, Atlanta suddenly has another weapon opposing teams have to game-plan around.
Atlanta has plenty of players capable of winning a playoff game.
But if this version of Angel Reese shows up in the postseason?
The Dream might be a much tougher playoff matchup than people realize.
