Seattle, WA – The Atlanta Dream’s recent struggles continued as they fell to the Seattle Storm 85-81 in a closely contested battle at Climate Pledge Arena on August 28, 2024. The Dream, who have been the hottest team in the WNBA since the Olympic break, have now lost three consecutive games following a three-game winning streak, each loss coming down to critical moments in the final seconds.
The Dream started strong, with Allisha Gray opening the scoring and Rhyne Howard knocking down crucial 3-pointers to keep the team within striking distance. Dream fans were particularly relieved to see Gray back on the court after she took a serious elbow from Aaliyah Boston in the previous game against Indiana, forcing her to leave and not return. Her return was a welcome sight, as she contributed 22 points in the game.
Tina Charles put on a historic performance, recording the first-ever triple-double in franchise history with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. Her 17 rebounds were a league-high for the night, and she also contributed four steals and a block. Despite these efforts, the Dream’s comeback fell just short as Jewel Loyd, who has haunted Atlanta in previous matchups, once again hit a big 3-pointer late in the game to give the Storm the lead. Gabby Williams then intercepted an inbound pass, sealing the Dream’s fate and handing them their third consecutive loss.
The loss to Seattle comes on the heels of tough defeats against the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever. The Dream had previously beaten the Mercury, but in their second meeting, Phoenix jumped out to an early lead that Atlanta couldn’t overcome despite a valiant effort. The matchup against the Fever, played in front of a sold-out home crowd, was another nail-biter, with Indiana’s fast-paced and unique style of play proving to be a significant challenge.
Coach Tanisha Wright praised her team’s effort, saying, “I thought our fight and our resolve throughout the game, again, was really good. Now, we have to be able to put it all together, so that we can start winning some of these games. Shoutout to Tina for having the first-ever career triple-double in franchise history. That’s big time.”
Despite the losing streak, the Dream remain just one game behind the Chicago Sky in the standings, with the Sky also struggling post-break. If Atlanta can find a way to regain their momentum, they will be a formidable opponent in the playoffs.
Up next, the Dream head to Las Vegas to take on a vulnerable Aces team that has lost three of their last four games. The Aces will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Dallas, making this matchup a crucial one for both teams as they push towards the playoffs.