Atlanta Dream Sweep Mystics, Return to WNBA Semifinals for First Time Since 2018 | 93-75
Atlanta's defense, balanced scoring and late-game execution carried the Dream past Washington and into the next round of the WNBA Playoffs.
The Atlanta Dream came into Washington with one goal: finish the job. With a chance to close out the first-round series and move one step closer to the championship, Atlanta did exactly what it needed to do, defeating the Washington Mystics 93-75 on Wednesday night to complete the sweep and advance to the WNBA playoff semifinals for the first time since 2018.
But this win was about more than moving on. It was about how Atlanta handled adversity, responded when Washington made a push, and showed the kind of composure needed when the stakes get higher in the postseason.
The Dream did not have everything go its way. Washington won the rebounding battle, Atlanta dealt with foul trouble, and the Mystics continued to look for opportunities to make things uncomfortable. Still, when the game reached a point where Atlanta needed to take control, the Dream found another gear.
And once they did, Washington had few answers.
Atlanta's defense set the tone
From the opening minutes, Atlanta made Washington work for its opportunities. The Dream pressured the basketball, disrupted passing lanes and turned defensive stops into scoring chances on the other end.
That pressure became one of the biggest differences in the game. Atlanta forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 23 points, giving the Dream opportunities to build momentum without relying entirely on its half-court offense.
The defensive effort was especially important on a night when the Mystics had success on the boards, outrebounding Atlanta 42-27. Washington created extra possessions, but the Dream countered by making it difficult for the Mystics to consistently take care of the basketball.
Atlanta also found its rhythm from the perimeter. The Dream knocked down 13 three-pointers, tying the franchise record for most threes in a postseason game, and shot 40.6% from beyond the arc. When opportunities came to stretch the floor, Atlanta took advantage.
The Dream also converted 90.9% of its free throws, making those trips to the line count as it worked to maintain control.
Five starters, five scoring threats
One of the biggest takeaways from Atlanta's win was the production across its starting lineup. Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon and Angel Reese all finished in double figures, giving Washington multiple players to account for throughout the night.
Gray led the Dream with 22 points, continuing to establish herself as one of Atlanta's most dependable scoring options. She also reached another postseason milestone, surpassing 200 career playoff points with her first point of the game. Gray moved into third place in franchise history for postseason games with at least 20 points.
Canada finished with 19 points and 11 assists, recording her third postseason double-double. Her ability to create opportunities for herself and her teammates helped Atlanta maintain its offensive rhythm, particularly when the game tightened in the second half.
Canada also moved into fourth place on the Dream's all-time postseason assists list after recording her first assist of the night.
Howard added 15 points, while Reese contributed 15 points of her own. Hillmon rounded out the group with 10 points, giving Atlanta five starters who reached double figures.
That balance matters in the playoffs. When one player draws extra defensive attention or the offense hits a difficult stretch, having multiple players capable of stepping up makes a team harder to contain.
Atlanta did not need to depend on one person to carry the entire night. The production came from across the lineup, and each contribution helped the Dream get closer to its goal.
When Washington pushed, Atlanta answered
The game was not without its tense moments.
Atlanta built a lead, but Washington continued to fight its way back into the contest. Foul trouble complicated matters for the Dream, with Reese and Canada forced to the bench at different points in the third quarter. Howard also found herself dealing with foul trouble, eventually picking up her fifth foul early in the fourth.
For a team trying to close out a playoff series on the road, those moments could have changed the direction of the game.
Washington cut into Atlanta's advantage and opened the fourth quarter with an opportunity to make things even more interesting. The Mystics eventually pulled within three points, putting pressure on the Dream to respond before the momentum shifted.
Atlanta answered with its most important stretch of the night.
Reese finished a layup, Hillmon scored four points, and Reese added two free throws. Howard followed with a long jumper before Canada knocked down a three-pointer. The sequence helped Atlanta put together a decisive fourth-quarter run, stretching the lead and putting the game back under its control.
Rather than allow Washington to build on its momentum, the Dream responded with stops and timely baskets.
It was the kind of stretch that can define a postseason game. Atlanta had faced pressure, dealt with lineup challenges and watched its lead shrink. When it needed to settle things down, the team executed.
The Dream ultimately outscored Washington 28-17 in the fourth quarter and finished with a 93-75 victory.
A breakthrough moment for Atlanta
With the win, Atlanta completed the two-game sweep and advanced beyond the opening round for the first time since 2018. The victory also marked the franchise's first playoff series win since 2016, adding another milestone to a night already filled with them.
The starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Hillmon and Reese improved to 2-0 together in the postseason, continuing to provide the foundation for Atlanta's playoff run. The Dream also improved its all-time playoff record against Washington to 8-4.
But the significance of this series goes beyond the numbers.
Atlanta was challenged throughout the matchup, and Washington showed it was not going to make the path forward easy. The Dream still found ways to win, using its defense, perimeter shooting and balanced scoring to close out the series in two games.
Head coach Karl Smesko emphasized that the focus was on winning and advancing, with everyone playing a part in getting the job done.
That message showed up on the floor. The Dream had contributions from its entire starting five, made timely shots when the game tightened and responded defensively when Washington threatened to get back into it.
Now, Atlanta gets an opportunity to see what it can do against a new opponent with even more at stake.
Next stop: the semifinals
The Dream will face the New York Liberty in a best of five semifinal series, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at State Farm Arena.
Atlanta has earned the opportunity to keep playing, and the sweep gives the team a chance to carry its momentum into the next round. The challenge will only grow from here, but the win in Washington offered a clear example of what the Dream can do when its defense creates opportunities and its starters deliver together.
The postseason is about finding ways to survive the difficult stretches, making the right plays when the game is on the line and taking advantage of opportunities when they come.
Atlanta checked those boxes Wednesday night.
The Dream handled business on the road, finished the series and took another step toward its ultimate goal. Now, with the semifinals ahead, Atlanta's playoff journey continues.
The Dream are moving on, on, and the next challenge awaits.