The Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces met in a highly competitive WNBA matchup Tuesday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena, with both teams entering the game near the top of the standings.
Atlanta came into the contest with a 21-13 record, while Las Vegas was 24-12. The matchup featured several of the league’s biggest names, including Allisha Gray, Angel Reese, Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson.
The game was scheduled for 9 p.m. ET and was televised nationally on ESPN, with streaming options also available.
Becky Hammon Ejected After Two Technical Fouls
One of the biggest storylines from the Dream vs. Aces game came in the second quarter when Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon was ejected.
Hammon became frustrated after Angel Reese missed a mid-range jumper with 5:06 remaining in the second quarter. The Aces coach appeared to be arguing that a foul should have been called on the play.
Her protest resulted in a technical foul while Atlanta held a 33-29 lead.
The situation escalated moments later when Hammon left the sideline and moved toward the officials. Her assistant coaches stepped in to prevent the situation from going further, and she was assessed a second technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection.
Assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson took over coaching duties for Las Vegas after Hammon left the game.
The ejection was Hammon’s first since June 9, 2024, when the Aces lost to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Dream and Aces Entered With Strong Records
The Atlanta Dream entered the matchup at 21-13, while the Aces had posted a 24-12 record. That made the contest an important late-season meeting between two teams competing at a high level.
Atlanta had been averaging 90.1 points per game entering the matchup. Las Vegas was allowing 87.1 points per game, setting up an interesting battle between the Dream’s offense and the Aces’ defense.
Las Vegas had been averaging 90.6 points per game while allowing opponents to score 87.1 points per contest.
Key Players to Watch
Allisha Gray was one of the major players to watch for Atlanta, while Angel Reese continued to provide an important presence inside.
Reese entered the game averaging 15.6 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Her rebounding ability and work around the basket made her an important matchup for the Aces.
For Las Vegas, Jackie Young had been producing across multiple areas. She entered the contest averaging 18.4 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.
A’ja Wilson also remained a central figure for the Aces and one of the league’s most dominant stars.
Dream vs. Aces Injury Report
The Aces were without Dana Evans, who was listed out with a leg injury. Janiah Barker was also out for the season because of a leg injury.
Atlanta entered the game without Brionna Jones, who was listed out with a leg injury.
Those absences added another layer to a matchup between two teams with significant postseason ambitions.
How to Watch Dream vs. Aces
The Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces matchup was played at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Tuesday, August 18.
TV: ESPN
Start time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Michelob ULTRA Arena
Matchup: Atlanta Dream vs. Las Vegas Aces
The game was also available through streaming services carrying ESPN.
Dream vs. Aces Betting Outlook
Before tipoff, Las Vegas was listed as a 4.5-point favorite. The Aces were also favored on the moneyline at -167, while Atlanta was listed at +140.
The projected total was 178.5 points, with the over at -105 and the under at -115.
These numbers reflected expectations for a competitive matchup between two productive offenses.
Why This Matchup Mattered
The Dream vs. Aces matchup carried importance beyond a single regular-season game. Both teams were positioned strongly in the WNBA standings and were looking to build momentum heading toward the postseason.
For Atlanta, the challenge was finding ways to attack a Las Vegas team capable of scoring efficiently while limiting opponents defensively.
For the Aces, the focus was maintaining their strong form despite injuries and dealing with the unexpected loss of their head coach after Hammon’s second-quarter ejection.
The early contest between the two teams also showed how intense the matchup could become, with the Dream holding a 33-29 advantage when Hammon was ejected.
Final Takeaway
The Dream vs. Aces matchup delivered plenty of drama, with Becky Hammon’s ejection becoming one of the game’s defining moments. The Las Vegas coach received two technical fouls after protesting a no-call involving an Angel Reese missed jumper.
With Atlanta and Las Vegas both entering the game with winning records, the matchup highlighted the competitive nature of the WNBA’s late-season race. Stars such as A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Jackie Young and Allisha Gray made the contest one of the more intriguing games on the schedule.
For both teams, the result and lessons from the matchup could prove valuable as the regular season moves toward its conclusion.
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