Hillmon’s Career Night Lifts Dream Past Wings in 88-85 Thriller

The Atlanta Dream pulled off a thrilling 88-85 victory over the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night in Dallas, improving their record to 16-11 on the season. With the win, the Dream moved to 1-0 with a new starting lineup of Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner, while also improving their all-time series record against the Wings to 16-13, including 5-10 on the road.

The game wasn’t without drama. Up by one just before halftime, former Atlanta Dream player — now with Dallas — Haley Jones fouled Brittney Griner in the paint. WNBA referee Anjelica Suffren called the foul on Griner instead, sparking outrage. An enraged Griner approached Suffren to argue the call and was assessed a technical foul. The confrontation escalated despite attempts from Atlanta’s coaches to intervene, and when Griner made contact with the referee, she was hit with a second technical — resulting in an automatic ejection. The six-time WNBA All-Star is now facing a likely suspension after making contact with a referee — something that’s an absolute no-go in both the WNBA and the NBA.

Despite losing one of their starters, the Dream rallied. Naz Hillmon stole the spotlight, recording a career-high 21 points and knocking down a career-best five three-pointers, including the game-winner with 2.3 seconds left on the clock. Her clutch performance marked her 11th double-digit scoring effort off the bench this season and capped a night that Dream fans won’t soon forget.

Allisha Gray also etched her name deeper into Dream history, moving into sixth place on the franchise’s all-time assists leaderboard while surpassing Elizabeth Williams for sixth on the team’s scoring list with 1,766 career points. Gray nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.

Paopao showcased her growth with 11 points, a career-high eight rebounds, and six assists, while also playing a career-high 37 minutes. Caldwell provided an offensive spark with 13 points and a team-high +13 plus-minus rating, while Jones added 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists, leaving her just one field goal shy of 1,000 for her career. Nia Coffey chipped in seven points off the bench to help fuel the first-half push.

Five players reached double figures for Atlanta — Hillmon (21), Gray (15), Jones (14), Caldwell (13), and Paopao (11) — showcasing the team’s balanced attack.

The win wrapped up Atlanta’s back-to-back stretch of the season, where they finished 4-2 overall and impressively went undefeated (3-0) in the second leg of their back-to-backs. With their 16th victory in just 27 games, the Dream have officially surpassed their total wins from the 2024 season, signaling the team’s upward trajectory.

Dream’s Balanced Attack, Hillmon’s Heroics: How Atlanta Got It Done

Atlanta came out firing in the opening quarter, with all five starters scoring on their first six attempts. Gray led the way with double-digit points early, and contributions from Coffey and Thierry helped the Dream close the period on a 9-1 run.

Hillmon and Paopao’s outside shooting carried the second quarter, while Gray and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added timely baskets to keep momentum rolling. Atlanta entered halftime shooting 50% from the field.

The third quarter saw Jones and Gray anchor the inside game, with Hillmon helping extend the lead during a 12-4 run. The Dream were perfect from the free-throw line in the period, holding off a Wings rally.

In the final frame, Caldwell’s and-one finish set the tone before back-to-back threes from her and Hillmon reignited Atlanta’s offense. Hillmon’s clutch shooting down the stretch, capped by her game-winning three off an assist from Paopao, sealed the dramatic victory.

The Dream closed the fourth quarter shooting an impressive 58.8% from the field, 55.6% from beyond the arc, and a flawless 100% at the free-throw line, showcasing poise and precision when it mattered most.

Next Up: Atlanta will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup on Friday, August 1, when they travel to face the Phoenix Mercury.