COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The goggles were everywhere.
Fans wore them in the stands. Some came dressed head-to-toe like Allisha Gray. Angel Reese put on a pair before the game. Te-Hina Paopao, who did not play, still showed love for her South Carolina sister with a pair of custom “Lish” goggles. By the end of the night, even Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko was getting in on the celebration.
It was Allisha Gray Goggle Night at Gateway Arena, and the fans fully bought into the spirit of honoring one of Atlanta’s stars.
Gray made sure they had a performance to celebrate, too.
Gray finished with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and a block as the Dream defeated the expansion Toronto Tempo 107-95, completing a four-game season sweep.
“I’m loved here in Atlanta,” Gray said after the game. “This organization has made me feel so well about myself. That’s why when it was time to extend and re-sign, it was no hesitation for me. This is a place I definitely want to retire and finish my career playing on the Dream.”
That connection between Gray and Atlanta was on display throughout the night. One young fan sitting courtside came dressed in a Gray uniform and goggles, continuing a relationship Gray said began when she personally gave the fan a basketball last season.
The celebration extended beyond Gray.
Atlanta put six players in double figures for the fourth time this season, with Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada and Reese each reaching the 20-point mark.
Howard led the Dream with 22 points, seven assists, four rebounds, three steals and a block. She knocked down six of Atlanta’s 14 3-pointers, with the team tying its season high from beyond the arc.
Howard also reached another milestone, becoming the fastest player to make 100 3-pointers in a season, doing so in 31 games. It was her 11th 20-point game of the season.
Canada added 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds while making four 3-pointers. The veteran guard also reached 2,500 career points and recorded her 28th game of the season with at least five assists.
Then there was Reese.
She posted 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her 22nd double-double of the season, establishing a new Dream single-season record. It was also her seventh game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Reese’s work on the glass helped Atlanta dominate Toronto 39-25 in rebounding, including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive boards.
Naz Hillmon supplied 11 points, five rebounds and three assists while finishing with a team-best plus-20. Her first steal of the night gave her 100 for her career.
Brionna Jones delivered one of Atlanta’s most efficient performances off the bench, scoring a season-high 15 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from the field.
“It feels good today to be able to get out there and contribute a little bit more,” Jones said. “But I think I’m still trying to figure things out and give myself grace. That’s been the hardest part for me.”
Jones also spoke about the developing chemistry between herself and Reese in Atlanta’s frontcourt.
“It makes it so easy, playing out there with her, just being able to have that inside-outside,” Jones said. “I can find her in the post, she can find me in the post. I think we’re still building that chemistry a little bit, but I think we’ve found a rhythm working together.”
Atlanta’s offense had plenty of rhythm against Toronto.
The Dream shot 51 percent from the floor, made 14 of 32 attempts from 3-point range and assisted on 29 of their 36 made field goals. Atlanta also committed just 12 turnovers.
Gray pointed to the Dream’s ability to play with pace and create opportunities for one another as a key to the offensive production.
“Just keeping high intensity during the whole game,” Gray said. “We knew for us, conversion, that’s one of our strong suits, and we knew doing that tonight we’d be able to create opportunities for each other.”
Toronto shot 52 percent from the field, but Atlanta’s advantages in rebounding, 3-point shooting and free throws helped overcome the Tempo’s efficient night.
Marina Mabrey did everything she could to keep Toronto within reach, scoring a game-high 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting and connecting on seven 3-pointers. Kiki Rice added 18 points and six assists, while Nyara Sabally recorded 12 points, 12 rebounds and four steals.
Atlanta countered with production throughout its rotation. The six double-digit scorers, Howard, Canada, Reese, Gray, Jones and Hillmon, accounted for 103 of the Dream’s 107 points.
The win also gave Smesko his 50th career victory and continued the success of Atlanta’s current starting group. The lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Hillmon and Reese improved to 20-8.
Atlanta is now 4-0 all-time against Toronto, including 2-0 at home, after sweeping all four meetings during the Tempo’s inaugural season.
For Gray, though, Goggle Night was also about the relationship she has built with the Atlanta fan base.
The goggles have become part of that connection, and on this night, the crowd made sure she could see it everywhere she looked.
“I’m a warrior,” Gray said. “I play hard every night, give my all for this team every night. So one black eye won’t stop me. I mean, I love this team. I go to war for them every night.”
On a night designed to celebrate Gray, Atlanta’s fans returned that love in kind.
