Full Breakdown
Aces Dismantle Dream in WNBA’s Barbie Game Day
8/4/2026, 12:15:46 PM
Game Summary
On August 3, 2026, the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Atlanta Dream 109-87 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Aces built a 28-point lead in the third quarter and never looked back. Jackie Young recorded a triple-double (28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), while A’ja Wilson added 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Angel Reese led the Dream with 23 points and 16 rebounds, marking her 20th double-double of the season, but the Dream’s five-game winning streak ended.
Background & Context
The contest was promoted as the WNBA’s first “Barbie Game Day,” featuring a pink carpet and a celebration of the Angel Reese Barbie doll released the previous month. The Dream entered the game on a five-game winning streak and hoped to showcase “Barbie’s Dream House” for a top-two seed push.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Las Vegas Aces 109, Atlanta Dream 87.
- Lead margin: Aces led by as many as 28 points.
- Shooting efficiency: Aces 62 % from the field, 53 % from three-point range; Dream 16 % from three (4-of-25).
- Turnovers: Aces forced 11 Dream turnovers, converting them into 20 points.
- Individual highlights: Young’s triple-double (28-11-10); Wilson’s 23 points and her 587th blocked shot, moving past Lauren Jackson into sixth on the WNBA career blocks list; Reese’s 23-16 double-double; Rhyne Howard’s 19 points and three three-pointers.
Official Statements & Responses
Georgia Smesko, the Dream’s head coach, praised the Aces’ performance, noting the dominance of the second quarter. Angel Reese acknowledged the Aces’ surge, while Rhyne Howard reflected on the loss as a learning experience for the Dream’s defense.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When Jackie started going off, that kind of steered things left for us,” — Angel Reese
- “The Aces were just outstanding today,” — Georgia. Smesko
- “That second quarter, they just really stuck it to us and really never let us get back in the game. This is one of those days where I don't really care who the Aces were playing; they were going to win. They reached a level today that was definitely championship level.” — Rhyne Howard
What’s Next
The Aces travel to Indiana for their next game on Thursday. The Dream will attempt to rebound against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday at Gateway Center Arena.
