Aces 85, Dream 84: A Heavyweight Battle in Atlanta

WNBA

May 17

The Atlanta Dream's home opener had everything a sold-out State Farm Arena, the defending WNBA champions, a 19-point deficit, and a fourth quarter that had 17,000 people on their feet. If you missed Sunday’s matchup between the Atlanta Dream and the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena, you missed an absolute heavyweight battle. It was a game that came down to the final buzzer, with the only thing it didn't have being a Dream win. Atlanta fell to Las Vegas 85-84 in a game that came down to the final 3.8 seconds, dropping to 2-1 on the season. Here is a breakdown of the key storylines and takeaways from Sunday's matchup.

They Came All the Way Back — Then Came Up One Short

This Dream team does not quit. Trailing 81-64 with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Atlanta went on an absolutely relentless run that had the building shaking.

Allisha Gray started it, scoring four straight. Then Naz Hillmon, Madina Okot, and Hillmon again chipped away. Angel Reese crashed the glass on the offensive end and kicked it out to the corner, where Te-Hina Paopao buried a three to make it a one-possession game.

After A'ja Wilson pushed the lead back to three, Gray hit two free throws to make it 83-82. Then Jordin Canada stole the ball directly off Wilson, took it the other way, and laid it in to give Atlanta an 84-83 lead with 36 seconds left. Wilson missed on the next possession, but after a jump ball with 8.5 seconds left, Chelsea Gray hit a 12 foot jumper to put the Aces back up one.

Atlanta's final inbounds play short-circuited under defensive pressure, ending in a strip by Chelsea Gray.

"There was just a little bit of confusion because they were playing different positions, and it kind of just short-circuited the play." — Head Coach Karl Smesko

Player Spotlights

Allisha Gray (25 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST): Gray was spectacular again, securing her third consecutive 20-plus point game to open the 2026 season. With her first assist of the night, she quietly moved into fifth place on the Dream's all-time assists list with 377 career dimes.
Te-Hina Paopao (19 PTS, 4 3PM): Paopao delivered a career high 19 points, hitting the massive corner three that pulled Atlanta within one during the final stretch. "I was like, 'Oh yeah, I'm down and ready.' And what I say is, corner threes get you paid and I made the corner three, so I was super hyped," Paopao said.
Madina Okot (14 PTS, 11 REB): The rookie announced herself by securing her first career double-double against the defending champions, leading the team on the boards and dominating the paint.
Jordin Canada (11 PTS, 5 AST, 7 STL): Canada tied her career high with seven steals, including the massive swipe on A'ja Wilson that briefly gave Atlanta the lead. Her elite anticipation completely disrupted the Aces' offense.
Angel Reese (9 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST): Flirting with a double-double, Reese did the dirty work all night. Her offensive rebound to set up Paopao’s corner three was a massive winning play that kept the comeback alive.

Note: The game also gave the home crowd its first look at Aaliyah Nye, who logged her first WNBA minutes in a Dream uniform.

The Bigger Picture

Losing by one at home hurts, but Atlanta has now fought back from a deficit in all three games this season this time wiping out a 19 point lead against the defending champions. The fourth quarter defense was elite, the depth is real, and the talent is undeniable.