The Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics will be battling out early this afternoon as both teams race to clinch their final spot in the playoffs.
The Dream lost their last game to the Mystics 69-72. If they had won, they would have been propelled into eighth place, but instead, it was Washington who slipped into the spot. Allisha Gray led in scoring with 17 points and 10 rebounds giving her a double-double. Naz Hillmon also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Lastly, Tina Charles came through with 13 points.
The Mystics may have won the game, but their roster didn't look the best the other night. Brittney Sykes had 20 points to lead her team to victory. Stefanie Dolson followed with 13 points and eight rebounds. Finally, Ariel Atkins had a slow game with just 10 points. Despite the lack of quality play, they still beat out Atlanta.
Can the Dream tie the Mystics record, or will the Mystics start to solidify their standing?
Game Details
Fixture: Atlanta Dream @ Washington Mystics
Date and Time: September 15th, 2024 @ 3:00 pm EST
Location: Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington, DC
Where to Watch: WNBA League Pass - Prime Video
Atlanta Dream Team Review
Rhyne Howard is the lead scorer for the Dream, with 17.7 points per game. She also leads in assists with 3.1 per game and steals with 1.7 per game. Tina Charles leads in rebounds with 9.4 per game, and Nia Coffey leads in blocks with 0.7 per game. Allisha Gray also contributes 15.8 points per game, while Charles has 14.9. However, after this, there is a drop in scoring.
The Dream has had a rocky season, including an eight-game losing streak earlier in the year. This streak is what caused them to fall so hard in the standings. They also haven't been able to consistently win outside of little bursts through the year. They do have a good chance of beating the Mystics today, as it will be a pretty even match up.
The biggest issue in the last game against Washington is that Howard did not play at the level she should have. Before the game against the Minnesota Lynx, she had three games in which she scored over 30 points. Having those nights and then dropping to 11 points can't happen when you are trying to get a playoff spot.
Washington Mystics Team Review
The lead scorer for Washington is Ariel Atkins, with 14.6 points per game. She also leads in steals with 1.5 per game. Aaliyah Edwards leads in rebounds with 5.6 and blocks with 0.8 per game. Lastly, Julie Vanloo leads in assists with 4.5 per game. Despite being the lower scoring team on average, they managed to have a better night against the Dream. If they can do it again, it will give them a bit of a cushion in eighth place, especially if the Chicago Sky lose today, too.
Though this team isn't really fit for the playoffs, they need a bit more time to figure out how to work well with rookie Edwards, who could be a big-time star for them. Right now, the forward is considered a game time decision, which could cause some issues. However, she didn't contribute much in the first game, with just 11 minutes played and zero points, so maybe it won't be a major factor today.
Who to Watch
Atlanta Dream
The key factor of this game is Howard. She had a rocky one the other day, but she could turn things around easily. Howard is a great player and has helped put this team in a good position. She and Allisha Gray would need to show up this afternoon if they are to beat the Mystics. Howard could pull out a 25+ point night, in which case the Dream may rally around her and get a win.
Washington Mystics
Sykes is the one to watch this game after the 20-point night she had. She typically only averages 12.9 per game, so those 20 points were a huge bonus. There is no doubt that she is the reason the Mystics won. The question is, can she pull that off again? Her teammates didn't show up last game, and if that happens again, a big game from her will be necessary.