By Milton Kirby | Indianapolis, IN | June 19, 2026

The Atlanta Dream delivered one of their most complete offensive performances of the season Thursday night, defeating the Indiana Fever 108-101 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and avenging a frustrating loss earlier this month.

Just two weeks after being held to a season-low 71 points by Indiana on June 4, Atlanta responded with its second-highest scoring output of the season and showed why it remains one of the WNBA’s top contenders.

The victory improved Atlanta’s record against Indiana to 36-34 all-time and set the stage for an anticipated rematch on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“I thought it was a high-level basketball game,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “Both teams played and executed, especially offensively, at a super-high level.”

Atlanta’s balanced attack was led by Angel Reese, who recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds despite battling foul trouble throughout the game. The performance marked the 59th double-double of Reese’s WNBA career.

“It was a collective win,” Reese said. “Everyone came in and did their jobs.”

The Dream received major contributions throughout the lineup. Jordin Canada scored 18 points while adding five assists and four steals. Naz Hillmon delivered a season-high 17 points and knocked down a team-leading three three-pointers. Allisha Gray also scored 17 points, while Rhyne Howard added 16 points, five rebounds and six assists.

For only the fourth time in franchise history, all five Atlanta starters scored at least 15 points.

The Dream’s starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Hillmon, and Reese improved to 10-3 when they played together.

Atlanta’s offense looked dramatically different from the unit that struggled against Indiana earlier this month. After scoring only 29 first-half points in the June 4 loss, the Dream exploded for 58 first-half points Thursday, shooting 23-for-38 from the field.

The Dream also controlled the paint, scoring 60 points inside while forcing 17 turnovers that led to 20 points. Atlanta’s bench added 19 points and eight rebounds, helping maintain pressure throughout the contest.

Smesko said the team focused on playing faster and more aggressively after reviewing the previous matchup.

“The things that we emphasized that we said we really wanted to do, I think the team took it to heart,” he said.

Indiana kept the game close behind standout performances from Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who each scored 26 points. Aliyah Boston added 23 points as the Fever shot 56.3 percent from the field and connected on 60 percent of their three-point attempts.

Despite Indiana’s efficient shooting, Atlanta carried a 58-49 lead into halftime.

One of Atlanta’s biggest concerns came when Reese picked up her fourth foul with 5:45 remaining in the second quarter. Rather than changing her approach, Smesko encouraged his star forward to remain composed.

He later said he trusted Reese to play smart basketball despite the foul trouble, and she rewarded that confidence by staying aggressive while avoiding a fifth foul until late in the game.

The teams matched each other point-for-point during the third quarter, each scoring 29 points. Clark scored nine points in the period for Indiana, while Hillmon answered with a strong offensive quarter for Atlanta.

The Fever made their move midway through the fourth quarter, using a 13-3 run to erase Atlanta’s lead and tie the game at 93 with just over five minutes remaining.

Smesko’s message during the tense stretch was simple.

“We played so hard and played so well for the first 35 minutes, let’s just win the last five,” he said. “We win the last five, and all of it was worth it.”

Atlanta responded immediately.

Reese used a spinning move in the post to regain the lead at 95-93. After Mitchell tied the game again, the Dream took control for good.

Gray converted two free throws and a layup to put Atlanta ahead by four. Howard followed with consecutive baskets that stretched the lead to 103-97 with 48 seconds remaining.

Reese completed a three-point play in the closing moments, and Atlanta converted enough free throws down the stretch to secure the seven-point victory.

The Dream finished the game with 17 fast-break points and scored 34 points in the second quarter for the second consecutive game, matching a season high.

Smesko believes games like Thursday’s can help prepare Atlanta for the intensity of the postseason.

“The more you play in playoff intensity-like games that have this type of edge to it, and when both teams are playing at that level, I think the more you can be in that environment and be in those situations, the more comfortable you’ll be,” he said.

With the season series now tied and another matchup looming Saturday in Atlanta, the growing rivalry between the Dream and Fever appears far from settled.

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