The Atlanta Dream are finally heading back to the second round of the WNBA playoffs. Atlanta completed a first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night, pulling away late for a 93-75 victory at CareFirst Arena. The win sends the Dream to the WNBA semifinals and ends a postseason drought that had followed the franchise for years.
Atlanta had not advanced beyond the opening round since 2018. Washington entered Game 2 with its season on the line and managed to keep the game close for much of the night. Entering the fourth quarter the Mystics trailed by just seven and managed to cut Atlanta's lead to three.
That’s when Jordin Canada provided the spark Atlanta needed. The veteran guard scored seven straight points during a crucial fourth-quarter run and finished with 17, helping the Dream turn a close game into a convincing victory. The moment was another example of the depth that has made Atlanta one of the WNBA's most dangerous teams this season.
The Dream entered the postseason with stars Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Angel Reese leading the way, but Atlanta has consistently received contributions throughout its roster. That balance became especially important during a physical first-round series against Washington. The Mystics presented Atlanta with problems throughout both games.
Washington entered the postseason having won nine of its final 11 games and finished the regular season tied with Atlanta for the WNBA's best record after the All-Star break. But when the games mattered most, the Dream consistently found another gear. In Game 1, Atlanta erased an 11-point deficit before defeating Washington 92-77.
The Dream forced 22 Mystics turnovers and recorded a franchise playoff-record 16 steals. Howard led Atlanta with 26 points and five steals, while Gray added 22 points. Reese recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds in her first career WNBA playoff game.
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