Dream beat Storm to clinch WNBA playoff berth

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Allisha Gray scored 18 points, Monique Billings set season-highs with 15 points and 14 rebounds, and the Atlanta Dream beat the Seattle Storm 79-68 on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2018.

Atlanta (18-20) is tied with Washington for sixth in the WNBA standings. The Dream host the Mystics on Friday before closing the season against fourth-place Dallas. Atlanta has beaten Washington in two of three matchups this season.

Cheyenne Parker added 17 points and Rhyne Howard scored 10 for the Dream.

Atlanta trailed 36-33 before closing the first half on a 14-4 run to lead 47-40 at the break. Gray and Parker each made 5 of 8 shots in the first half to help the Dream shoot 54% from the field.

Aari McDonald made a long 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to extend Atlanta’s lead to 65-52 with 23.7 seconds left in the third quarter. Billings completed a three-point play for a 72-62 lead midway through the fourth, and Rhyne Howard made Atlanta’s third 3-pointer of the game with 2:55 remaining for a 12-point lead.

Jewell Loyd led Seattle (11-27) with 26 points on 8-of-25 shooting. Sami Whitcomb added 13 points and Ezi Magbegor had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

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DREAM 79, STORM 68

SEATTLE (68) — Horston 0-5 0-0 0, Magbegor 3-7 5-6 12, Fankam Mendjiadeu 0-1 2-2 2, Loyd 8-25 9-10 26, Whitcomb 5-10 0-0 13, Holmes 0-0 0-0 0, Russell 4-7 0-0 8, Melbourne 0-0 0-0 0, Nurse 2-6 2-2 7. Totals 22-61 18-20 68.

ATLANTA (79) — Billings 6-11 3-3 15, Howard 3-12 3-3 10, Parker 7-14 3-4 17, Gray 9-22 0-0 18, Robinson 4-5 1-2 9, Hillmon 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Rupert 1-3 0-0 3, Durr 1-1 0-0 2, McDonald 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 33-72 10-12 79.

Seattle 24 16 12 16—68

Atlanta 19 28 18 14—79

3-Point Goals—Seattle 6-20 (Whitcomb 3-6, Magbegor 1-2, Nurse 1-3, Loyd 1-8, Horston 0-1), Atlanta 3-14 (Rupert 1-1, McDonald 1-2, Howard 1-4, Billings 0-1, Gray 0-6). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Seattle 30 (Magbegor 8), Atlanta 37 (Billings 14). Assists—Seattle 12 (Magbegor 4), Atlanta 24 (Howard, McDonald 7). Total Fouls—Seattle 14, Atlanta 19. A—2,731.