Atlanta (7-11) has lost nine of its last 12 games and hasn’t won a home game since June 16.
It was the first time Chicago (7-11) beat Atlanta since July 12, 2022, and the Sky snapped a five-game losing streak against the Dream.
Carter scored a game-high 26 points, his highest total in a single game this season. Reese recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and collected a career-high 19 rebounds.
“It’s a tough loss for us today,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright said. “I can take a lot of the credit. I probably should have changed some things on defense. Especially with Carter, who just put her head down and kept going.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Atlanta shot 51.4 percent (18 of 35 overall, 4 of 8 from long range) in the first half but went cold in the second half. The Dream shot 36.4 percent and were 3 of 14 from long range over the final 20 minutes.
“I think in the fourth quarter we didn’t stay composed and find the right shots at the right opportunities,” Wright said. “That’s more a reflection of me not being prepared and composed enough to be able to find those things. We have to work on getting better as players, myself as a coach, so that when we find ourselves in those situations again, we can have a different outcome.”
Atlanta turned the ball over a season-high 19 times, and Chicago scored 22 points off of it. The Dreams’ previous record for turnovers was 17 against Washington on May 29. Atlanta has turned the ball over 10 or more times in every game this season.
“I think we have to do a better job of understanding that we want to play fast and we want to play with pace,” Wright said. “The last three games we’ve been playing that way. But with that, you still have to be able to take care of the ball. Those are opportunities and shots on goal that we’re not having. We had 68 field goal attempts with (19) turnovers. If we cut that down to 10, that’s eight more field goal attempts that you have.”
The Dream, who shoot roughly 80% from the line as a team, were unusually cold from the line, going 10-for-16 (62.5%).
“They’re giving away points,” Wright said. “We have to take our time. (Allisha Gray) missed two tonight. Normally, in her career, she’s a high-70s, low-80s free throw shooter. We just have to take our time. It’s a mental thing.”
On a positive note, Atlanta won the rebounding battle 37-34 largely due to Tina Charles’ double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.
“I think the guards did a good job of coming in to help,” Wright said. “Obviously, Tina has been good at rebounding and continues to be good at rebounding. Naz (Hillmon) came in and got some rebounds, especially in that second quarter. When we play teams like this that are really good at rebounding, our guards have to help rebound.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Atlanta also racked up 27 assists, compared to Chicago’s 20. Gray added four of those assists and scored 19 points. Jordin Canada led the team in assists with seven.
“I thought they did a great job moving the ball,” Wright said. “Especially early on in some spots. We’re going to need that. That means everybody touched the ball, everybody had opportunities. When we played in transition, I thought our post did a good job finding cutters on the back end tonight.”
The Dream hit the road for a three-game trip against Dallas (Friday), Connecticut (Sunday) and Chicago on July 10.
