Story perspectives

Atlanta Dream Rout Toronto 111-92, Reese Double-Double

7/18/2026

Summary

Dream Dominate

The Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 111-92.
Angel Reese recorded 23 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for her 17th double-double of the season.
Naz Hillmon scored 24 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting night, four three-pointers and four free throws.
Jordin Canada contributed 18 points and a league-high 13 assists with no turnovers.
All five Dream players scored in double figures as Atlanta outscored Toronto 63-45.

Summary

Jones Returns

Brionna Jones will make her season debut on July 16 in Toronto, ending a meniscus-injury absence.
Coach Karl Smesko will limit Jones to about 15 minutes initially before restoring her to a starter role.
The Dream’s interior defense, which ranked last with 2.8 blocks per game, hopes Jones will improve rim protection.
Hillmon said Jones will occupy the center spot, moving Reese to power forward and sending Hillmon to the bench.

Summary

Toronto Falters

Toronto’s defensive rating of 112.0 ranks 13th, indicating defensive struggles.
The Tempo allows opponents 0.95 points per half-court play, the league worst.
Falkenheim rates Toronto’s half-court offense at 0.91 points per play (9th) and its transition and scramble offenses at 1.19 and 1.21 points per play, ranking first and third.
Toronto has dropped seven straight fourth-quarters, a –60-point deficit averaging –8.6 points per quarter since June 22.

History

Historical Context

When the WNBA launched in 1997, the Houston Comets captured the first championship, finishing with a 27-5 record and league-best 44.5 defensive rating. Star guard Cynthia Cooper averaged 22.2 points per game, while teammate Sheryl Swoopes contributed 5.3 blocks per game, the highest league figure that season. Today's Atlanta Dream’s reliance on interior reinforcements mirrors Houston’s 1997 strategy of bolstering defense with dominant post players like Cooper’s twin-tower approach. That early emphasis proved decisive, suggesting the Dream’s upcoming lineup changes could similarly shift win-loss margins and revive playoff prospects.

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Dream Dominate

The Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 111-92.
Angel Reese recorded 23 points, 12 rebounds and three steals for her 17th double-double of the season.
Naz Hillmon scored 24 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting night, four three-pointers and four free throws.
Jordin Canada contributed 18 points and a league-high 13 assists with no turnovers.
All five Dream players scored in double figures as Atlanta outscored Toronto 63-45.

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