In front of a sellout crowd in Atlanta, the energy in the arena was palpable from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Reporters remarked that this was the most hype they had seen from the crowd all season long, creating an electrifying atmosphere that undoubtedly impacted the game. The Dream, facing the back-to-back champions Las Vegas Aces, came in as underdogs but leveraged their size advantage and the crowd’s energy to secure a thrilling 78-74 victory.
Game Recap:
The Dream started strong, quickly jumping to a 7-1 lead, riding the wave of high energy from their fans. However, the Aces, despite coming in a bit vulnerable, soon found their rhythm and took the lead at 11-10. The Dream’s defense was particularly noteworthy, disrupting the Aces’ initial momentum and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
A’ja Wilson, a force in the paint on both ends, was a standout for the Aces, but the combined size of Tina Charles and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus presented significant challenges. Wilson, who was on a streak of five consecutive games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds, finished with 28 points and 9 rebounds, narrowly missing the 10 rebounds needed to extend her streak.
Kelsey Plum struggled initially, missing her first five shots, but managed to break her drought midway through the second quarter, helping the Aces build a 20-13 lead. Crystal Dangerfield led the Dream in scoring early, keeping the game close.
The first half ended with a narrow 34-28 lead for the Aces, highlighted by a big-time block from Rhyne Howard and confident play from Haley Jones, who utilized her size advantage over Plum.
As the game progressed, Allisha Gray found her groove, particularly from beyond the arc. Her stellar shooting brought the Dream within one point in the third quarter and tied the game at 53-53 heading into the final period.
Key Moments:
- A’ja Wilson’s Dominance: Wilson’s impact was felt throughout the game, forcing Dream players to rush their shots and dominating offensively. Despite her strong performance, she fell just short of continuing her impressive streak.
- Allisha Gray’s Shooting: Gray credited Cheyenne Parker-Tyus for setting effective screens and boosting her confidence. “In the first half I kinda struggled, I was in my head and frustrated a bit and CP pulled me to the side and said YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO YOU DO THIS and before coming out to the second half she was like this is your half, everything’s going to be alright. I credit them for giving me that confidence…” Gray said.
- Aerial Powers’ Energy: Powers provided a significant spark, both with her play and by igniting the crowd, helping to shift the momentum in Atlanta’s favor. Post-game, the coach highlighted her impact, stating, “Yeah AP is high energy everybody knows that… today she came out and really changed the momentum of the game with that energy. She has the ability to effect the game in different ways, not just her scoring and I thought today she focused on that…”
With the game on the line, Rhyne Howard, despite favoring her left elbow after a hard fall, made crucial free throws to extend Atlanta’s lead to 73-70 with just 26.1 seconds left. Ultimately, the Dream held on to secure the win, ending Wilson’s streak and marking a significant victory.
Game Stats Summary:
- Las Vegas Aces:
- A’ja Wilson: 28 points, 9 rebounds
- Kelsey Plum: 19 points, 4 assists
- Jackie Young: 15 points, 6 rebounds
- Atlanta Dream:
- Allisha Gray: 24 points, 6 three-pointers
- Rhyne Howard: 16 points, 6 rebounds
- Tina Charles: 8 points, 8 rebounds
The Dream’s balanced attack and robust defensive effort were key in overcoming the Aces, showcasing their potential as a formidable team this season. This victory, fueled by the enthusiastic home crowd marks a high point in what promises to be an exciting season for the Atlanta Dream. The Dream will go on to face the hottest team in the League, no pun intended, in the Connecticut Sun this Sunday and try to end their 7-game win streak.
