The Atlanta Dream closed out their regular-season series against the New York Liberty with a statement 78–62 win, setting a new franchise record with their 24th victory of the season, the most since 2018. The win also evened the series at 2–2 and improved Atlanta’s all-time record against New York to 25–41 overall and 13–21 at home. Starting Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones, the Dream moved to 2–0 with that lineup this season.
Atlanta came out firing from the opening tip, with Naz Hillmon establishing her presence inside before Allisha Gray connected from deep. Rhyne Howard turned defense into offense with a pair of steals that led to easy buckets, including a transition three for Gray. Paopao and Caldwell added triples of their own, while the Dream’s defense forced five Liberty turnovers in the first period. A 17–6 surge closed the quarter, and Atlanta held a 24–14 lead after one.
The second quarter only widened the gap. Hillmon and Jones scored early inside, Paopao drilled her second three of the night, and Hillmon stretched the floor with another triple and free throws at the line. Nia Coffey’s offensive rebound and putback kept the energy rolling, and with 12 team assists in the first half, Atlanta entered the break leading 48–29. In the third, Jones and Paopao set the tone, Gray added a deep ball, and Caldwell converted inside. Howard orchestrated the offense with poise, racking up assists while Jones dominated the paint. Shooting 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the stripe, the Dream took a 64–44 lead into the final quarter.
Any hope of a Liberty comeback was stifled immediately when Gray opened the fourth with consecutive buckets. Hillmon continued her steady scoring, Howard hit her fourth three-pointer, and the combination of Gray and Jones inside left New York scrambling. Atlanta’s bench kept the defensive clamps on, holding the Liberty to just six field goals in the final frame. A closing 14–6 run sealed the victory and sent the Dream home with a commanding 78–62 win.
The box score told the story of balance and depth. Gray led the way with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, extending her streak of leading the team in scoring to 16 straight games. Jones matched her with 17 points, 8 boards, and 2 assists, her 14th time leading Atlanta on the glass this season. Hillmon chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, notching her 17th double-digit scoring performance of the year. Paopao knocked down three triples for 9 points while adding 3 assists and a steal, and Rhyne Howard filled the stat sheet with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 0 turnovers, and 2 steals. Off the bench, Maya Caldwell tied her season high with 7 rebounds and contributed 7 points and 2 assists.
After the game, the mood was reflective yet focused. Hillmon and Gray spoke about the significance of the franchise-best 24 wins, noting that the team takes pride in these milestones while keeping their eyes set on larger goals. “We are trying to make Atlanta a championship team, a place to be,” Hillmon said. Gray pointed to offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities as the details that made the difference, while both emphasized the importance of maintaining defensive pressure when New York cut the lead to 14 in the second half. Asked about her career year, Gray downplayed individual numbers, saying it felt even better to be part of a winning team than to set personal highs. Hillmon, meanwhile, praised Gray’s MVP-level consistency, noting her efficiency, defensive assignments, and the sheer weight of responsibility she carries for the Dream.
When the conversation turned to Coach Karl Smesko, Hillmon didn’t hesitate to say he deserves to be in the Coach of the Year conversation. “We were ranked number seven by some people, and we’re number two right now. That speaks to what he’s done,” she said. Coach Smesko, for his part, deflected the personal recognition, saying his focus was always on having his team the best prepared to play every night. “To me the most important coach of the year is whoever wins the championship,” he said.
The Dream’s hot start was also a topic of discussion. Hillmon credited the defense: “Our defense really fueled us. Once we got stops we were able to push in transition, and it’s really hard to match up with us in transition.” Smesko added that offensive rhythm mattered too, noting how the ball was moving side to side through multiple actions before Atlanta found its best looks. “Most of the possessions we scored on, New York defended the first action well, the second action well, and then on the third or fourth action we got our shot,” he explained.
With the win, Atlanta solidified its position near the top of the WNBA standings, sitting in second place with a 24–13 record and keeping pressure on the league’s elite. The standings remain tight, with just a few games separating the upper seeds, but the Dream have given themselves real breathing room with this latest performance.
The Atlanta Dream are soaring right now, and it is due to so many different things, but one of the main reasons is Coach Karl Smesko. I echo Naz Hillmon’s sentiments that he should be considered for Coach of the Year, and his ability to transform this roster into a consistent contender has been nothing short of impressive. Just as important is chemistry. This team has one of the best vibes in the league. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray regularly post TikTok videos together. Te-Hina Paopao’s birthday was a team-wide celebration. Every new player who comes in immediately talks about how welcomed they feel. Maya Caldwell is grounded in her faith, and Brionna Jones has been known to skip media scrums to attend team Bible sessions before games. Watching Jones and Brittney Griner encourage each other while working on their threes in practice is a thing of beauty.
No team in the league seems to be having more fun than Atlanta, and that kind of chemistry often leads to championships. Griner did not start this game, perhaps the first time in her career she has come off the bench, but she has made no fuss. She’s embraced the role, contributing while getting healthy. Nia Coffey has spoken about learning adaptability this season, something she says is crucial in a deep rotation where injuries and shifting minutes can change roles quickly. Last year, when the Dream lost a star player, the losses followed in bunches. This year, the wins keep coming regardless of who is out. Even when Rhyne Howard went down—a loss that devastated the team last season—Atlanta ripped off a win streak so impressive it had YouTubers questioning whether the Dream were better without her, something unimaginable a year ago.
Through it all, Allisha Gray has been the steady rock. She has held the team together when it seemed like things might fall apart, and she has been consistently dominant on both ends. The MVP chants from the Dream faithful are not misplaced. She has played at an MVP level all season, and Naz Hillmon was right to point out how essential Gray’s contributions are—whether it’s scoring, defense, or leadership. Will the Dream win a title this year? The parity in the WNBA is too great to make bold predictions. But do they have every tool they need to win it all? Absolutely. And every analyst can say that without hesitation.
All Photos Provided by Atlanta Dream Media via Getty Images (Adam Hagy)
