The Atlanta Dream successfully advanced to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs, marking the first time in four years they avoided a first-round exit. The Dream, who led the Eastern Conference during the regular season, defeated the Washington Mystics in Game 2 with a score of 83-75 on Tuesday night.
Star guard Allisha Gray led the charge for Atlanta, scoring 22 points. Her performance was crucial in securing the team’s place in the semifinals for the first time since 2018.
The Dream will continue their postseason journey as they host Game 1 of the semifinals against the New York Liberty this coming Sunday. The Liberty made history by sweeping Minnesota, becoming the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.
In Game 2, forward Angel Reese celebrated with her teammates after being fouled in the first half. The game saw significant contributions from Jordin Canada, who made consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and then added a jumper to extend Atlanta’s lead to 89-70 with under three minutes remaining.
Rhyne Howard, the top pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, contributed 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese also contributed with 15 points and seven rebounds.
The Mystics, playing in their first playoff series since their 2019 championship, struggled with 11 turnovers in the first half. They managed to narrow the gap to 65-62 in the third quarter but the Dream responded with a 13-point run, bolstered by Canada’s 3-pointer, rebuilding a secure 78-62 lead.
Sonia Citron of the Mystics attempted to rally her team with a 3-pointer, but it wasn’t enough against Atlanta’s strong performance.
The Dallas Wings also hosted the Golden State Valkyries in another first-round series matchup on Wednesday.
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