Records Fell, Goggles Were Everywhere, and the Dream Swept the Tempo | This Night Had Everything | 107-95

Before the game even started, Gateway Center Arena was already feeling special.

Allisha Gray goggle giveaway night in Atlanta and Coach Karl Smesko walked out to the court wearing a black t-shirt with Gray's face on the front and a pair of those signature goggles sitting on top of his head. If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the relationship between this player and this city, I don't know what will.

"I'm loved here in Atlanta," Gray said after the game. "Atlanta has made me feel so well about myself. This is a place I definitely want to retire and finish my career playing on the Dream."

That's not a quote. That's a commitment. And the 107-95 win over the Toronto Tempo that followed was the kind of complete team performance that makes you believe every word of it.

Angel Reese made WNBA history again

Let's start here because this is the moment the game will be remembered for.

Angel Reese grabbed her seventh defensive rebound with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter and in doing so recorded her 22nd double-double of the season, breaking the Atlanta Dream single-season record and setting a new all-time franchise mark. She already owns the WNBA record for reaching 1,000 career rebounds in the fewest games. Now she owns the Dream record for single-season double-doubles.

She finished the night with 20 points and 14 rebounds her seventh game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. She leads the entire WNBA in double-doubles. And with 12 regular season games remaining, she needs just seven more double-doubles to break Alyssa Thomas's WNBA single-season record of 28, set in 2023.

That record is in her sights. Don't look away.

Rhyne Howard became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 100 threes in a season

She needed five made threes to reach the century mark. She hit six. With 4:17 remaining in the fourth quarter Howard drained her fifth three of the night the record-setter becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 100 made three-pointers in a single season, doing it in just 31 games.

22 points. 6 made threes. Her 11th game this season with 20 or more points. Howard is playing the best basketball of her career right now and the records keep confirming what anybody who watches this team already knows she is one of the best players in this league.

Jordin Canada reached 2,500 career points

The moment came with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter a free throw that pushed Canada to 2,500 points for her career. She finished the night with 20 points, 9 assists, and her 28th game this season with 5 or more assists. She is also the first-time-ever recipient of a quiet but significant milestone leading all point guards in the WNBA in double-doubles this season.

Canada doesn't always get the headlines she deserves. But the numbers 2,500 career points, 28 games with 5-plus assists, five double-doubles tell you exactly who she is and what she means to this team.

Bri Jones came off the bench and was perfect

5-for-5 from the field. 15 points. A season high. Jones was immaculate on every shot she took and gave Atlanta the kind of efficient bench production that championship teams rely on in long seasons.

"I think my teammates, they have my back," Jones said. "They know what I'm capable of, but it feels good today to be able to get out there and contribute a little bit more."

That's a player who has been waiting for her moment and delivered when it arrived. 100 percent from the field in a WNBA game is not easy. Jones made it look natural.

Naz Hillmon hit 100 career steals

With her first steal of the night Hillmon reached 100 career steals a milestone for a forward who does so much of her best work in ways that don't always show up on the highlight reel. She also scored 11 points and was a physical presence on both ends all night.

Allisha Gray's night

15 points on goggle night. The goggles are the symbol. The retirement comment is the headline. Gray has become something bigger than a basketball player in Atlanta she has become part of the city's identity. And on a night when the arena was celebrating her before the opening tip, she went out and played with the joy and confidence of someone who knows exactly where she belongs.

Karl Smesko's 50th win

This was Coach Smesko's 50th career WNBA head coaching win and he celebrated it in the most Smesko way possible. Wearing Allisha Gray's face on his chest, her goggles on his head, talking about taking good shots and closing it out. "Rhy hit some big 3s in the fourth to separate things and we were able to close it out." And then: "Hopefully this builds into another good performance a couple of days from now."

50 wins. No celebration. Just focus on the next game. That's the standard this coaching staff operates by and it's the biggest reason this team keeps winning.

Toronto fought but the Dream were just better

Marina Mabrey led Toronto with 36 points yes, 36 and Nyara Sabally grabbed 12 rebounds. The Tempo had moments in the third and fourth quarters where they cut into the lead and made it interesting. But every time Toronto made a run the Dream had an answer. A Reese bucket. A Howard three. A Canada free throw that pushed her to 2,500 career points. Atlanta held Toronto to eight points of separation or fewer for the rest of the game after the third quarter surge and they never let it get closer than that.

My take

Six players in double figures for the fourth time this season. 14 made threes tying their season high. The starting five moves to 20-8 together. Coach Smesko's 50th win. Angel Reese with her 22nd double-double. Rhyne Howard the fastest ever to 100 threes in a season. Jordin Canada at 2,500 career points. Bri Jones perfect from the field. Allisha Gray telling Atlanta she wants to retire here.

This Dream team is special. Every game they play something happens worth remembering. Thursday at Connecticut is next and Reese is seven double-doubles away from the all-time WNBA single-season record.

I'll be watching every minute