The Atlanta Dream shook off a rocky start and powered past the Los Angeles Sparks, 86–75, on Wednesday night in a game that showed both their adaptability and their depth.
A Rough Start, Then a Response
The Sparks came out firing, opening on a 10–0 run that forced the Dream to play from behind early. Atlanta missed its first five layups before Naz Hillmon finally broke the drought with a layup off a Jordin Canada assist. Maya Caldwell’s shooting and Brittney Griner’s inside presence quickly steadied the team, and by the end of the first quarter, the Dream had flipped the scoreboard, leading 26–24.
Taking Control in the Second
The momentum carried into the second quarter, as Te-Hina Paopao drilled a three to push the lead to 29–24. Rhyne Howard’s drives and perimeter shots kept Atlanta in rhythm, while Griner stepped out to the arc to swat away a Rickea Jackson three-point attempt that lit up the crowd. Howard led all Dream scorers at the break with 12 points, Caldwell added 9, and Canada orchestrated the offense with 7 points and 6 assists. Even without Allisha Gray—sidelined for the first time this season—Atlanta looked in control.
Breaking the Third-Quarter Curse
Historically, the third quarter has been a challenge for the Dream, but not tonight. Howard stayed aggressive, Caldwell continued her high-level play, and Hillmon delivered a pivotal three-pointer to stretch the lead to 67–56. Canada created fast-break opportunities with her speed, including one sequence where she sprinted coast-to-coast off an inbound for a wide-open layup. Paopao’s steal-and-score underscored how defense and pace fueled the Dream’s dominance.
Fourth-Quarter Frenzy
The final period was all about energy. Brionna Jones set the tone with a thunderous two-handed block on Kelsey Plum, followed immediately by a Hillmon three that sent Gateway Arena into a frenzy. During the Sparks’ timeout, the fans broke into a Swag Surf, and the Dream fed off that energy. Caldwell nailed a big three coming out of the break, and by the two-minute mark, Atlanta had five players in double figures and an 86–74 lead. Rookie Nia Kone even saw her first action of the season in the closing moments, as the Dream secured the 86–75 win.
My Take
The Atlanta Dream handled the Los Angeles Sparks how a team vying for top seeding should handle a team fighting for a playoff spot. Coach Karl Smesko said before the game, “We’re playing a team that’s as motivated as they can possibly be.” He was right. But the Dream proved up to the test.
Friday’s rematch will be different. As Smesko noted, the Sparks will have rested from their long road trip and will be better prepared. Atlanta cannot afford another slow start like tonight’s 10–0 hole. Still, this game showed something important: the Dream can survive without any star in the lineup. Throughout the season, they’ve weathered stretches without Paopao, Howard, Griner, and twice without Canada. Tonight, for the first time, they were without Allisha Gray. At first it looked rocky, but they adapted and thrived—just as Nia Coffey emphasized earlier this season.
This was an incredible display of ball movement and teamwork. Smesko reminded us postgame that if you keep moving the ball, you’ll find weaknesses in any defense. That’s exactly what Atlanta did.
The Sparks were not without firepower—Dearica Hamby quietly scored 21 points with 9 rebounds, nearly a double-double, while Rickea Jackson added 15 and Kelsey Plum had 18. On any given night in the W, any team can win. But the Dream are entering the stretch of the season when good teams separate themselves, and this was the kind of win that signals Atlanta is ready to do just that.
And while football fans may circle Thursday night for Eagles vs. Cowboys, the real matchup to watch for the Dream comes in the WNBA: Aces vs. Lynx. If Minnesota pulls it out, Atlanta could climb even further into second place, setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the regular season.
