The Atlanta Dream pulled off a thrilling 107-96 overtime victory over the Dallas Wings in a must-win game on Friday night at Gateway Center Arena, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Led by a standout performance from Rhyne Howard, who scored 33 points, the Dream overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half, proving their resilience in a game with playoff intensity.
Both the Dream and the Wings entered the game needing a win, with the Dream tied for the final playoff spot and the Wings chasing to stay within reach. The Dream’s recent struggles—having lost five of their last six—made this game a pivotal moment in their season. Meanwhile, the Wings had shown flashes of greatness but were coming off back-to-back losses that they couldn’t afford to repeat.
From the opening tip, it was clear both teams were prepared for a battle. Rhyne Howard wasted no time, starting with a quick five points, but the Wings, led by Arike Ogunbowale, responded in kind. The Wings’ size advantage became apparent early, with Natasha Howard dominating the paint. Dallas ended the first quarter ahead, 24-16, largely due to their rebounding edge and more efficient shooting.
Coach Tanisha Wright acknowledged the challenge of facing the Wings’ height in her post-game comments: “Yeah, I think we just tried to do much better at pressuring the basketball so they couldn’t get pinpoint passes directly into the paint. We worked around a little bit more to make it a little tougher of a pass.”
The Dream fought back in the second quarter, with Tina Charles and Naz Hillmon working hard inside. Despite a strong push by Charles, the Wings continued to control the game. Natasha Howard was on fire for the Wings, finishing with 24 points, and Arike Ogunbowale added 22 of her own. But the Dream weren’t going down without a fight. As Allisha Gray chipped in and Howard found her rhythm again, Atlanta managed to cut the deficit to 56-42 by halftime.
Rhyne Howard’s leadership came into play as her playmaking abilities helped shift the momentum. Naz Hillmon praised Howard’s vocal leadership: “She’s just been such an open book, giving us exactly what we need… She really always knows what’s going on but now she’s really vocal, and it’s making a big difference for us.”
The second half saw a determined Dream claw their way back into the game. Naz Hillmon’s efficiency (18 points on 6 of 7 shooting) and Howard’s relentless three-point shooting (6 of 17 from beyond the arc) kept the Dream within reach. Allisha Gray’s all-around performance—19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists—was crucial during key moments when the Wings tried to pull away.
Entering the fourth quarter down by six, the Dream showed heart and resilience. Tina Charles continued to battle in the post, finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Rhyne Howard hit timely shots that electrified the crowd. A pivotal moment came when Howard drilled a three-pointer, tying the game at 85-85 with minutes left in regulation. The Dream, feeding off the crowd’s energy, forced the game into overtime after a missed shot by Charles at the buzzer.
As Howard described the key three-pointer that tied the game: “When I’m shooting, I have to be unconscious… it definitely was a momentum shifter for us because everybody’s energy was really, really good, and the crowd was feeding into us.”
Coach Tanisha Wright praised her team’s resilience in those critical moments: “What a phenomenal effort by our athletes tonight. Just heart, resilience, not giving up, and a playoff atmosphere. That was a playoff game, and we understand that every game from here on out is going to be like that for us.”
After a strong showing in regulation, the Dallas Wings simply couldn’t step up when it mattered most in overtime. The team went cold offensively, largely due to Allisha Gray’s stiff defense on Arike Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale, who was a dominant force throughout regulation, was neutralized in overtime, struggling to find her rhythm as Gray locked in.
With Ogunbowale struggling, the Wings put the ball in Satou Sabally’s hands, but Sabally failed to deliver. She had critical turnovers and shot poorly from beyond the arc in clutch moments, leaving the Wings searching for answers. The team’s bench also provided little support, contributing just 5 points—2 from Kalani Brown and 3 from Jaelyn Brown. Sevgi Uzun, in particular, had a tough night, recording zero points and two turnovers, further compounding the Wings’ issues.
Late in the game, the Wings’ emotions seemed to get the better of them, leading to several blowups with the referees and some ill-timed fouls. Their frustration was palpable as the Dream took advantage of every opportunity.
Once in overtime, the Dream took complete control. Jordin Canada, who had a standout performance with 15 points and 10 assists, set the tone early, finding Hillmon for a layup. Gray followed with a clutch three-pointer, extending the lead to 102-96. The Dream’s defense, spearheaded by Canada and Hillmon, made key stops, while Tina Charles added another bucket to push the lead to 104-96.
Naz Hillmon also emphasized the importance of the team effort: “We did a great job of sharing the ball and finding the hot hand… it’s hard to guard five people on the floor when everybody’s attacking.”
The Dream were also buoyed by the home crowd, whose energy proved to be a critical factor in the win. As Rhyne Howard mentioned in the post-game press conference, “The crowd was feeding into us… and we knew we didn’t come all the way back to fall short.” With just under a minute to go, the Dream’s relentless energy was too much for the Wings. The Dream secured the win as Gray’s final rebound and free throws capped off the victory.
The Dream’s win brings their total to 12-22, positioning them for a strong playoff push as they fight for the final spot. Their dominance on the boards (winning the rebounding battle 37-33) and clutch shooting down the stretch showed the team’s grit in crunch time. With another strong performance from their stars and continued team effort, Atlanta is proving they have what it takes to contend when the stakes are high.
Coach Wright emphasized the need to maintain this intensity: “That type of fight, that type of energy, is going to be needed as we continue to push for the playoffs.”
The Dream will need to carry this momentum forward into their next matchup as every game becomes more crucial with the playoffs looming on the horizon.
