The Atlanta Dream may have come up short in their preseason showdown with the Indiana Fever, falling 81–76, but the game offered promising signs for a team under new leadership and loaded with fresh talent. With seven lead changes and the score tied twice, the game was a competitive back-and-forth that showed the Dream’s growth—despite early-season rust.
The Fever jumped out to a 14–4 lead, their largest of the night, but the Dream fought back behind a more balanced attack and promising defensive efforts. In the end, Indiana’s late-game execution sealed it, but not before rookie Te-Hina Paopao stole the show.
Rookie Rise: Paopao Outshines the Stars
On a floor that featured Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray, it was the Dream’s rookie guard Te-Hina Paopao who emerged with the game-high for Atlanta, scoring 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three.
In the most electric moment of the night, Paopao traded step-back threes with Clark in consecutive possessions.
“I was kind of mad that she scored that three on me, so I knew I had to get my lick back, and that’s what I did,” Paopao said. “And so I appreciate my teammates understanding that.”
Her composure caught the eye of Head Coach Karl Smesko, who said:
“She’s fearless. She goes in there and she’s ready… She’s played in as big a games as there are in the college games. So this doesn’t bother her.”
Her teammates were just as impressed:
“She’s not a rookie. She definitely doesn’t give rookie. Her poise and her confidence—she doesn’t give rookie at all.”
Cold Night for Key Shooters
While Paopao was red-hot from long range, the Dream’s usual sharpshooters struggled to find rhythm:
- Rhyne Howard: 10 points, 2-for-11 from three
- Allisha Gray: Scoreless from deep, 0-for-4 from three
- Caitlin Clark (Fever): 13 points, 3-for-8 from three
Still, Coach Smesko emphasized the importance of sticking to their identity:
“Keep shooting… A slow start doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad game. Like, you might make the next four.”
Balanced Scoring and Defense in Progress
The Dream’s top scorers:
- Te-Hina Paopao – 14 points
- Brionna Jones – 11 points
- Rhyne Howard – 10 points
For Indiana:
- Lexie Hull – 14 points
- Caitlin Clark – 13 points
- Kelsey Mitchell – 12 points
Despite the loss, the Dream held Indiana’s transition game in check, allowing just eight fast-break points, something Smesko called a “bright spot.”
Looking Ahead
Paopao admitted there’s still work to be done, especially defensively at the WNBA level.
“I got hit by tons of screens today, so I’m going to have to definitely get used to the fast pace… I just got to, you know, just get fast.”
Still, she felt the love from the Atlanta fans:
“Playing in front of the fans… it is so fun today, and that’s probably my favorite thing today.”
As the Dream prepare for the regular season, chemistry will be key.
“We’re playing under a new coach, and there’s a lot of new faces here… but we have a lot of great pieces, so we can do a lot of different lineups,” Paopao said.
Even in defeat, the Dream may have found something special in their rookie guard—and that’s a win that could pay off all season long.
