Angel Reese has put together plenty of memorable performances during her first season with the Atlanta Dream, but one statistic continues to stand out above all the others.
When Reese dominates the glass, Atlanta almost always wins.
The latest example came Sunday when the Dream cruised past the Toronto Tempo 102-77. Reese finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds, recording her ninth double-double in just 13 games and helping Atlanta continue its climb up the WNBA standings.
It wasn’t an isolated performance, either.
Reese has been on a remarkable stretch over her last five games, consistently giving Atlanta exactly what it needs in the paint:
11 points, 10 rebounds18 points, 17 rebounds17 points, 17 rebounds25 points, 9 rebounds15 points, 17 rebounds
The trend has become impossible to ignore.
Atlanta is now 8-1 this season when Reese records at least 10 rebounds.
Angel Reese’s last five games:
11 PTS | 10 REB
18 PTS | 17 REB
17 PTS | 17 REB
25 PTS | 9 REB
15 PTS | 17 REB
Atlanta is 8-1 this season when she records double-digit rebounds. pic.twitter.com/WwthNVAIbo
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 14, 2026The formula for Dream success starts with Reese
There are plenty of reasons why Atlanta has emerged as one of the WNBA’s biggest surprises this season. Allisha Gray has been playing some of the best basketball of her career. Rhyne Howard continues to be one of the league’s premier scorers. Karl Smesko’s system has helped unlock one of the WNBA’s most efficient offenses.
But Reese’s rebounding has become the foundation that holds everything together.
Every extra possession creates another opportunity for Atlanta’s talented scorers. Every defensive rebound ends an opponent’s possession and allows the Dream to push the pace.
It’s not always flashy, but it is incredibly effective. Against Toronto, Reese’s impact went well beyond her 17 total rebounds. She grabbed 11 offensive boards by herself, more than the entire Tempo team managed collectively.
That relentless effort has become her trademark.
Reese is turning rebounds into wins
The relationship between Reese’s rebounding numbers and Atlanta’s success is becoming difficult to dismiss as a coincidence. The Dream are 8-1 when she reaches double figures on the glass. In those games, Atlanta has consistently controlled possession battles and generated valuable second-chance opportunities.
Reese’s ability to extend possessions often changes the complexion of a game even when she isn’t leading the team in scoring. That’s what makes her so valuable. Many stars impact games primarily through points. Reese impacts games by creating more chances for everyone else while also providing her own scoring production.
The result has been one of the strongest starts of her professional career.
Her recent five-game stretch has featured three games with at least 17 rebounds, a level of consistency few players in the league can match.
MORE: Angel Reese tied one of the most impressive rebounding marks in WNBA history
Atlanta’s ceiling may depend on this trend continuing
The Dream entered the season with high expectations after reshaping their roster around Reese, Gray and Howard. So far, the results have largely justified the excitement. Atlanta has positioned itself among the Eastern Conference contenders and looks capable of challenging any team in the league on a given night.
For that to continue, Reese likely won’t need to score 25 points every game. What Atlanta needs most is what she’s already been providing.
Energy. Physicality. Rebounding.
The numbers tell the story. When Angel Reese records double-digit rebounds, the Dream are nearly unbeatable. And based on the way she’s been attacking the glass lately, that formula doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
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