The Atlanta Dream secured a thrilling 92-91 victory over the Washington Mystics, improving to 4-2 with their current starting lineup of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner. The win marked a strong all-around team performance, with all five starters scoring in double figures for the first time this season. Gray led the way with 18 points and reached a career milestone, moving into fifth place in franchise history for three-pointers made (142).
While the stat sheet may not capture it fully, the story of this game was Jordin Canada. From the opening tip, she was everywhere defensively—disrupting passing lanes, hounding the ball, and helping the Dream keep pace with the Mystics’ early tempo. As Washington surged late, Canada came up big, knocking the ball away from Emily Engstler in a crucial moment that set up a pivotal sequence. After a brief injury scare that sent her to the bench in the fourth quarter, Gray returned to make a statement—taking Canada’s steal coast to coast, drawing a foul, and calmly sinking two free throws that put the Dream ahead for good. Canada finished with just two steals officially, but her defensive impact went far beyond the box score.
Atlanta’s bench also played a key role, outscoring Washington’s 26-9. Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao, and Nia Coffey provided a critical spark, particularly in the first half. Hillmon and Paopao combined for 13 of the Dream’s 24 first-quarter points, helping erase an early Washington lead. The Dream closed the first half on a dominant 23-7 run, entering halftime up 47-38 while shooting 56.3% from the field and 62.5% from three.
In the third quarter, Brionna Jones and Allisha Gray ignited the offense with a 12-point burst between them, helping maintain Atlanta’s double-digit cushion. By the start of the fourth, every Dream starter had reached double digits. Howard came alive early in the final frame, and Atlanta capitalized at the free throw line, going 13-for-15 to seal the win. Still, it wasn’t easy. Shakira Austin was dominant for the Mystics, posting 28 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie Sonia Citron scored in double figures for the third time this season against the Dream.
The final moments of the game added a layer of drama that nearly sent the game to overtime. With Atlanta ahead 92-89 and just 0.1 seconds remaining, Brittney Sykes brought the ball to the top of the key, guarded tightly by Allisha Gray. Sykes initiated contact, threw herself into Gray, and attempted a three-pointer, drawing a controversial foul call. Sykes—who had gone 10-for-11 from the stripe on the night—stepped to the line with a chance to tie the game. But the one free throw she missed sealed the win for Atlanta.
When asked how she felt while Sykes was at the line, Brionna Jones said with a laugh, “I was just thinking—I hope she miss.” She added, “We know she’s a great free throw shooter, and we have to be better to not put ourselves in that situation, but… I’m on the other team, so…” Coach was also asked about the final foul and gave an honest assessment: “I’m at a terrible angle, and I’m biased… but I wasn’t expecting a call… but it happened, and now we gotta hope that a really good player misses at least one—and fortunately, she did.”
Despite a strong push from Washington, Atlanta’s resilience stood out. After the game, Jones summed it up in one word: resilient. That word felt appropriate—not just for the final minutes, but for the entire contest. The last time these two teams met, Atlanta embarrassed the Mystics on their home court. This time, Washington came ready to play and gave the Dream everything they could handle.
The Dream shot 49.2% from the field and 91.7% from the free throw line. Griner led the team with 7 rebounds, and both Jones and Howard dished out 6 assists apiece. With the win, Atlanta improves its all-time record against Washington to 31-34 overall and 17-14 at home. More importantly, this was a gutsy, hard-earned win that showed the Dream can grind out close games even when the stat lines don’t tell the whole story.
