Atlanta Dream beat Seattle Storm 79-68 to clinch playoff spot

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — 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 Dream 79, Seattle Storm 68: Box score

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.

Big time play by @moniquebillings helped uplift the @AtlantaDream past the Storm 🙌

Billings had a 15 PT, 14 REB double-double which marked the 11th of her career, she also chipped in 4 dimes#MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/lG7ohtfLpd

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2023

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.

Get mixy one time then, @jewellloyd 😤

📺 @NBATV pic.twitter.com/7NiBX6BS2J

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 7, 2023

Sami Whitcomb added 13 points and Ezi Magbegor had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Last time: A’ja Wilson scores 30 to help Aces beat Seattle Storm 103-77