This was a statement win for the Atlanta Dream.
In the last five games, they have earned wins over the Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun, and Los Angeles Sparks. Their most impressive win came last Tuesday against the Indiana Fever, where Caitlin Clark dropped 20+ points but the Dream still pulled off a gritty one-point victory. However, after dropping a rematch to the Fever just two days later, many still had serious doubts about Atlanta as a serious contender in the WNBA.
That’s what made this game versus the Seattle Storm so important—and so revealing. It showed a lot about the talent on the roster, the grit of the players, and the leadership guiding this team.
The Seattle Storm have assembled one of the most impressive rosters in the league. With Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and the No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga, the Storm boast a blend of experience, athleticism, and youth that makes them a dangerous matchup for anyone. Early in the contest, that firepower was on full display. Seattle surged ahead by as many as 17 points, looking ready to put Atlanta away early.
But the Dream never folded.
In the second half, they turned the momentum with physicality and persistence, attacking the basket and drawing contact, eventually converting seven AND-1 plays—a new WNBA record for a single half, breaking a mark that had stood since 2000. Atlanta outscored Seattle 60-42 in the second half, clawing their way back into the game and eventually flipping the deficit into a statement seven-point win.
This performance also snapped an eight-game losing streak in Seattle, as the Dream improved their all-time record against the Storm to 19-24 overall and 6-16 on the road. It also marked the first time in franchise history that Atlanta went undefeated on a West Coast road trip, which included wins over Phoenix and Seattle.
The Dream debuted a new starting five—Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner—and immediately improved to 1-0 with that lineup. They’re now 5-2, off to their best seven-game start since 2016, and riding their longest win streak (4 games) since 2023.
Once again, Naz Hillmon came up big for Atlanta. She finished with 11 points, led the team with 7 rebounds, and posted a +24 plus-minus—a true indicator of her impact on the game. Hillmon continues to evolve as a stretch forward, showing growing confidence from the perimeter. “Coach loves the three,” she said postgame. “We’ve been working on it, and I’m starting to feel it.”
More than just her play, Hillmon’s mindset powered the Dream through their comeback:
“We never felt like we were going to lose—at least I didn’t,” she said. “I knew what we had in the bag and what was to come, so we just kept the positive mindset of knowing that we hadn’t played our best brand of basketball.”
While Brittney Griner saw limited minutes due to her return from a left knee injury, she contributed defensively with several key blocks and veteran presence. She scored just 2 points, but her impact was felt in the paint.
The stars of the night, however, were Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, who combined for 61 points. Howard led all scorers with 33, while Gray poured in a career-high 28 points, capping off a dominant month in which she averaged career bests across nearly every major statistical category.
Their combined explosion marked just the eighth time in franchise history that two players scored 25+ points in the same game. The last time Howard and Gray went for 55+ points together was July 2, 2023, versus Los Angeles.
Brionna Jones also made her presence felt with 15 points, rounding out a performance where four Dream players scored in double figures.
For a team that many had written off just days ago, the Atlanta Dream answered the call.
They fought off an early deficit, silenced a tough crowd in Seattle, and beat one of the most complete teams in the WNBA.
This wasn’t just a win—it was a warning.
Photos provided by Kris Reid (Atlanta Dream Media).
