Atlanta Dream Advances in Playoffs

The Atlanta Dream has successfully avoided a first-round playoff exit for the first time in four years. This season, they finished with the top regular-season record in the Eastern Conference and comfortably defeated the Washington Mystics in Game 2 of their playoff series Tuesday night. Allisha Gray, the star guard, led the team with 22 points, securing an 83-75 victory which sends Atlanta to the semifinals for the first time since 2018.

Looking ahead, Atlanta will continue its playoff journey on Sunday, hosting Game 1 of the semifinals against New York. The Liberty made headlines by sweeping Minnesota, marking the first time an No. 8 seed eliminated a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.

In a key moment of the game, Jordin Canada nailed back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, pushing Atlanta ahead with an 89-70 lead. Rhyne Howard, the first overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, also contributed significantly with 15 points before fouling out, while Angel Reese matched her with 15 points and added seven rebounds.

The Mystics struggled with ball control, recording 11 turnovers in the first half. They did mount a comeback with a 14-2 run early in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 65-62. But Atlanta responded decisively, scoring 13 unanswered points, capped off by a 3-pointer from Canada, to extend their lead to 78-62.

It’s worth noting that the Mystics were in the playoffs for the first time since they won the WNBA championship in 2019. Meanwhile, while the Dream has enjoyed some success in the conference, securing the title three times from 2010 to 2013, they are still seeking their first WNBA championship.

In another first-round matchup, the Dallas Wings hosted the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.