In front of a sold-out home crowd, the Atlanta Dream faced a must-win scenario against the Washington Mystics, but a tough shooting night ultimately sealed their fate. Despite valiant efforts from Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Rhyne Howard, the Dream fell 72-69, inching closer to playoff elimination. With the loss, the Dream’s postseason hopes hang by a thread, as a Mystics win in their next game could officially end Atlanta’s season.
The Dream came out strong in the first quarter, led by Rhyne Howard, who made an immediate impact with a block, a three-pointer, and a steal within the first two minutes. Atlanta quickly built a 10-point lead, energizing the crowd. However, as the quarter progressed, the Dream’s offense slowed, and the Mystics cut into the lead. By the end of the first, Atlanta held a 20-16 advantage, but signs of their upcoming shooting struggles were already starting to show.
Second Quarter: Dream Lose Their Grip
The Mystics wasted no time chipping away at the Dream’s lead, bringing the game within one point early in the second quarter. A three-point play by Sika Kone gave Washington their first lead with 6:46 on the clock. Atlanta responded briefly, reclaiming the lead after Allisha Gray went to the free-throw line, but the Dream couldn’t pull away. Despite Naz Hillmon’s dominant rebounding performance, securing 8 boards by the half, Atlanta’s stars—Gray, Howard, and Tina Charles—were all held under double figures by halftime.
The Mystics’ bench played a pivotal role in keeping them in the game, and Brittney Sykes’ late three-pointer gave Washington a 34-30 lead heading into the break. Coach Tanisha Wright noted, “We had a lot of opportunities that we missed. We should have been able to convert on those and open up the lead. But credit to Washington, they held the fort.”
Down by 4 at the start of the third, things quickly got worse for Atlanta, with the Mystics stretching their lead to 9. The Dream’s shooting woes persisted, as they missed several close-range opportunities. However, Allisha Gray reignited the offense with two hard-fought baskets, cutting the lead to 45-40. Jordin Canada’s push up the court helped set the pace, and Maya Caldwell came off the bench to hit a crucial corner three, bringing the Dream within 2 points.
With just under two minutes left in the quarter, Gray’s free throws tied the game at 47-47, electrifying the home crowd. Despite the surge, the Mystics quickly responded, taking a slim 51-49 lead into the fourth. Coach Wright remarked on the team’s resilience: “We forced 20 turnovers… We just have to shoot with confidence when we have those shots.”
Fourth Quarter: Heartbreak at the Buzzer
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows. The Dream briefly regained the lead when Jordin Canada went to the line, making it 67-66. However, Stefanie Dolson’s layup and the Mystics’ defensive pressure kept Atlanta on its heels. Dolson made a costly turnover with under a minute left, giving the Dream an opportunity, but Rhyne Howard’s basket to cut the deficit to one wasn’t enough. The Mystics iced the game with free throws from Ariel Atkins, sealing the 72-69 victory.
Allisha Gray led the Dream with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Naz Hillmon recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Rhyne Howard added 11 points, but the Dream’s shooting struggles defined the game. They finished the night 21/73 from the field (28.8%) and 5/20 from beyond the arc (25%).
Hillmon reflected on the team’s shooting night: “We got good shots, some wide open… A couple more shots could have made a big difference tonight.”
Playoff Picture: Must-Win Ahead
The loss puts the Dream in a precarious position. Atlanta now sits at 12-25, 19 games back in the standings, and a Mystics win in their next game will officially eliminate the Dream from playoff contention. While Washington’s record of 13-24 keeps them technically tied with Chicago for the 8th spot, the Sky hold the tiebreaker advantage in the WNBA playoff race.
Despite the tough loss, the Dream remain optimistic. Gray emphasized the importance of staying focused, saying, “We just have to put this one behind us and focus on the next game. We’re still in the playoff hunt, we just gotta win games.”
With three games left on their schedule, including a critical matchup against the Mystics, Atlanta’s playoff fate is now out of their hands. The road ahead is tough, but the Dream will need to muster all their resilience if they hope to stay in the race.
Key Stats:
• Allisha Gray: 17 points, 10 rebounds
• Naz Hillmon: 10 points, 11 rebounds
• Rhyne Howard: 11 points, 3 rebounds
• Brittney Sykes (Mystics): 20 points, 3 assists
• Mystics outshot the Dream 20/50 compared to 21/73Next Up:
The Dream face the Chicago Sky in a pivotal matchup on Tuesday, September 17th, with the hopes of keeping their season alive. The Mystics, who now control their playoff destiny, will look to clinch their spot when they face Atlanta again on Sunday.
WNBA Standings
1. Liberty – 31-6
2. Lynx – 28-9
3. Sun – 26-10
4. Aces – 24-13
5. Storm – 23-14
6. Fever – 19-19
7. Mercury – 17-19
8. Sky – 13-24
9. Mystics – 13-24
10. Dream – 12-25
11. Wings – 9-29
12. Sparks – 7-30
