Atlanta Dream Fall Short in Nail-Biter Against Seattle Storm, 80-79

The Atlanta Dream suffered a heartbreaking 80-79 loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday night in a game that came down to the final possession.

The Dream opened the game with Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones, Brittney Griner, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough in the starting lineup, with Rhyne Howard still sidelined due to injury. Brittney Griner won the opening tip, setting an aggressive tone early, while Jordin Canada drew fouls and hit free throws to get Atlanta on the board. Brionna Jones provided steady interior scoring with a putback layup and a cutting finish off a Griner assist. Defensively, Canada and Gray each recorded steals, but Atlanta’s transition play was undermined by multiple turnovers, including bad passes from Canada that led to fast-break opportunities for Seattle.

Off the bench, Te-Hina Paopao, Maya Caldwell, Nia Coffey, Naz Hillmon, and Taylor Thierry saw early action, but the Dream struggled to finish at the rim. Despite offensive rebounds from Jones and Walker-Kimbrough, Atlanta couldn’t convert consistently. Allisha Gray finally knocked down a three late in the quarter to cut into the deficit, but the Dream closed the first period trailing.

The second quarter saw the Dream fight back behind Allisha Gray, who drained a deep pull-up three early off a Naz Hillmon assist to keep Atlanta within striking distance. Jordin Canada continued her aggressive play, earning trips to the line after drawing contact, but struggled to finish in transition, missing a pair of fast-break layups. Brionna Jones continued her dominance on the offensive glass, finishing a turnaround jumper to tie the game. However, turnovers from Canada and Nia Coffey fueled Seattle’s momentum, with Skylar Diggins and Alysha Clark connecting on key threes to keep Atlanta on its heels.

Naz Hillmon contributed with a mid-range jumper, while Te-Hina Paopao ended a scoring drought with a turnaround jumper of her own. Brittney Griner anchored the defense with a block and strong paint presence, but missed assignments allowed Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler to drain threes for Seattle. As the half closed, Gabby Williams scored on a fast-break pull-up, and Brionna Jones converted off a cut assisted by Gray to keep Atlanta close. The Dream trailed 39-37 at halftime.

At halftime, it was clear that Brionna Jones’ work on the offensive glass was creating second-chance opportunities, but ball security needed improvement, especially in transition. Missed layups by Canada and Gray limited potential scoring runs, and while Paopao, Hillmon, and Walker-Kimbrough brought energy off the bench, their scoring efficiency needed to increase.

The third quarter remained a defensive grind with the Dream battling for control. Jordin Canada opened with a pull-up jumper assisted by Brionna Jones and continued drawing fouls to keep Atlanta close, but missed a fast-break layup that could have shifted momentum. Brionna Jones added a hook shot to tie the game at 39, continuing her strong interior presence. Despite solid ball movement, Atlanta’s perimeter shooting woes continued, with Hillmon, Canada, and Caldwell each missing open threes.

Defensively, Allisha Gray rebounded well and sank free throws after drawing contact, but turnovers from Naz Hillmon, Maya Caldwell, and Canada allowed Seattle to capitalize with quick scores, including layups from Erica Wheeler and Gabby Williams. Brittney Griner re-entered to stabilize the paint, hitting free throws and a hook shot to tie the game again, but also picked up an offensive foul, adding to Atlanta’s turnover total. Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike scored late to regain the lead for Seattle, but Canada answered with a driving layup to keep it within one. The Dream trailed 42-41 heading into the fourth.

The final quarter featured multiple lead changes as both teams traded baskets down the stretch. Brionna Jones opened with an offensive putback, while Maya Caldwell and Erica Wheeler combined for crucial drives to keep Atlanta in it. Jordin Canada came up big, drawing fouls and sinking clutch free throws to give Atlanta a four-point cushion at 79-75 with under a minute to play. However, Nneka Ogwumike responded with a turnaround jumper, and Skylar Diggins hit a contested layup with three seconds left to put Seattle ahead 80-79. On the final possession, Canada took a deep three for the win but missed as time expired, sealing a narrow and heartbreaking defeat for the Dream.

Despite Canada’s clutch free throws giving Atlanta a late lead and Naz Hillmon dominating the boards to create second-chance points, turnovers proved costly, especially the late-game giveaways that fueled Seattle’s comeback. Diggins’ game-winning layup with three seconds left sealed the Storm victory.

The Dream showed grit and composure under pressure but struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities in the final possessions. Coach Karl Smesko will look for his team to tighten ball security and capitalize on open looks as they prepare for their next matchup against the Valkyries on Monday July 7.