It was Barbie Night at State Farm Arena, and thousands gathered to celebrate one of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Unfortunately, despite a stellar performance by the real-life Barbie, Angel Reese, there wasn’t much to celebrate for Dream fans as Atlanta fell to the Las Vegas Aces, 109-87, for the second time this season on its home floor.
Jackie Young spoiled the party with one of the best performances of her career, recording a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Aces to victory. A’ja Wilson added 23 points, while Chelsea Gray scored 17 and NaLyssa Smith chipped in 18 as four Las Vegas starters finished in double figures.
Ironically, the first time I saw the Angel Reese Barbie doll was in Chicago during All-Star Weekend at the Barack Obama Presidential Center. As Reese held court with the media, Jackie Young unexpectedly held up the doll from across the room for Reese to see. Reese immediately smiled and shouted, “How did you get that?” Young proudly held it up and explained that someone in the room had given it to her.
Only a few weeks later, Young’s spectacular triple-double would put a serious damper on a night designed to celebrate the Barbie.
Long before tipoff, the atmosphere inside State Farm Arena was electric. Young girls arrived carrying boxed Angel Reese Barbie dolls, hoping to have them signed by the real-life Basketball Barbie after the game. The celebration began with Reese’s pregame press conference, where the Barbie doll sat prominently in front of her. During the opening question, fans crowded outside the media room, pounding on the glass and screaming to get Reese’s attention, a reminder of just how quickly her popularity has grown.
Asked by reporter Malik Brown when she realized her level of fame had changed, Reese reflected on her journey.
“As soon as I won a national championship. You probably can see the popularity continue to grow… Now it’s worldwide, everywhere. People know kind of who I am, and it’s crazy sometimes because I necessarily can’t really go places that I used to enjoy all the time. But it really is really inspiring. I’m grateful and I’m really just happy.”
With the festivities complete, the Dream looked to extend their five-game winning streak after victories over Dallas, Seattle, Chicago, the Toronto Tempo and Los Angeles. Las Vegas, meanwhile, arrived in Atlanta coming off a disappointing loss in Chicago.
The response from the Aces was emphatic.
Las Vegas shot 44-for-71 (62 percent) from the field and knocked down 10 of its 19 three-point attempts (53 percent). Atlanta finished 33-for-75 (44 percent) overall and just 4-for-24 (17 percent) from beyond the arc.
Head coach Karl Smesko pointed to one stretch that changed everything.
“The Aces were just outstanding today, and that second quarter, they just really stuck it to us and really never let us get back in the game.”
Young’s performance was at the center of it all.
“We let her get downhill to the right too many times.”
Smesko continued his praise of the veteran guard.
“She’s one of the best players in the league, and she had just an outstanding game today.”
Atlanta’s struggles from three-point range weren’t simply a matter of missed shots. Smesko explained that Las Vegas’ defensive approach disrupted the Dream’s offensive rhythm.
“They were denying Lish and Rye, and essentially daring everybody else to shoot from three.”
He added:
“If it’s gonna be a second thought three rather than you catch it in rhythm and let it go, you’re not gonna shoot a real good percentage.”
The numbers backed up his assessment.
Although Atlanta has managed to win games despite poor outside shooting, including a 1-for-16 performance against Dallas during its recent winning streak, there would be no escape against a veteran Las Vegas team that capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
Smesko didn’t hesitate to credit the Aces afterward.
“They reached a level today that was definitely a championship level.”
Angel Reese acknowledged that Atlanta’s defensive identity never fully showed up.
“I don’t think this was our best game defensively… we didn’t get a lot of hands on balls tonight.”
She also felt Young’s breakout performance altered the course of the game.
“When Jackie starts going off… I think that kind of steered things left for us.”
Rhyne Howard said the film session ahead would be an important one.
“They basically scored 30 points every quarter, and we can’t allow that, especially with the confidence that we have in our defense. It’s probably gonna be a very long film session, but it’s what we need in order to take the next step in making the push that we want to make.”
Now the Dream will look to respond Wednesday when they host the Phoenix Mercury. Smesko noted that Las Vegas entered Sunday’s game motivated after suffering a loss of its own, and he hopes Atlanta responds with that same urgency after one of its most disappointing performances of the season.
On the bright side, in spite of the loss, fans in State Farm Arena were still in a very celebratory mood after the game. In one of the most rare scence in sports, Atlanta Dream fans line-danced the night away, even in defeat. This should send a very encouraging message to the Dream as they look to avenge last night’s loss, Wednesday at Gateway Arena.
