The race for the final WNBA playoff spot is heating up.
Both Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream secured key victories at home in what could be a neck-to-neck finish to determine who will enter the postseason as the number eight seed.
Angel Reese continues her stellar rookie campaign with a 24-point, 12 rebound performance in a much-needed 92-78 Sky victory against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Chicago Sky are back in the win column after defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 92-78 🔥
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2024
Angel Reese went off for her 26th double-double of the szn, dropping 24 PTS, 12 REB, & 2 AST!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/1v6RRQZ6Ux
Reese registered her 26th double-double and helped Chicago arrest a seven-game skid. Sky managed to keep up with the pressure along with Dream, who earlier secured a comeback win against the Dallas Wings.
Angel Reese went off in Chicago’s win over the LA Sparks!
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2024
24 PTS
12 REB
2 AST
1 STL
1 3PM
9-15 FG
The rook also recorded her 26th double-double of the season and is just three shy of the WNBA record!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/3UVaiST3oG
Chennedy Carter returned after missing three games with an illness and did it all, dropping 15 points, nine rebounds and seven dimes.
Chicago bucked a slow start and banked on surging mid-quarter explosions to take a 75-61 lead heading to the final frame.
Chennedy Carter was doin' it ALL in her first game back with a near triple-double 🗣?
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2024
15 PTS
9 REB
7 AST#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/4qm06VIoAn
Leading by as much as 18 points, the Sky never looked back and went on to hand the cellar-dweller Sparks their third straight setback.
Dearica Hamby topscored Los Angeles with 21 markers while Rickea Jackson added 17 points.
Meanwhile, Rhyne Howard logged a season-high 33 points for his second-straight 30-point outing in the Dream’s 107-96 comeback overtime win against the Wings.
The @AtlantaDream are puttin' up a HARD CASE on why they deserve the 8th playoff spot 👀
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2024
After trailing by as much as 14 points, the Dream fought back in the 4Q and OT to snatch the WIN vs. the Wings!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/a6aUIfTii3
Howard also joins Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi as the only WNBA players to post back-to-back games with 30-plus points, five-plus two-pointers, and five-plus 3-pointers made in a game. The 2022 WNBA Rookie waxed hot beyond the arc and connected on six three pointers on top of six dimes in 45 minutes of action.
Rhyne Howard is the 3rd player in WNBA history to record back-to-back games with:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) September 7, 2024
30+ PTS
5+ 2PT
5+ 3PT
Joining Maya Moore & Diana Taurasi. pic.twitter.com/c6XSi8chxq
Tina Charles added 20 markers while Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon and Jordin Canada contributed 19, 18, and 15 points respectively for the Dream, who bounced back after a 74-66 defeat against the Phoenix Mercury.
Atlanta wiped out an early 16-point deficit and had a chance to win the game after Howard split from the charity stripe for a 92-90 lead with 19 ticks to go.
But Natasha Howard hit a clutch jumper to tie things up in the ensuing possession for Dallas as Charles’ game-winning attempt rimmed out to pave the way for extra five minutes.
Atlanta eventually outscored Dallas in the final five minutes, 15-4, en route to handing the Wings their third straight loss.
Meanwhile, Howard paced the Wings (9-25) with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Arike Ogunbowale added 22 points, while Satou Sabally and Teaira McCowan each had 18 markers.
