Dream Dominate Sky, Extend Win Streak to Four with 86-65 Victory

The Atlanta Dream kept their momentum rolling, cruising past the Chicago Sky 86-65 to sweep the regular season series 4-0. The Dream, starting Jordin Canada, Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones, improved to 1-0 with that lineup. The win also moved Atlanta’s all-time record against Chicago to 30-37 overall (14-18 on the road).

With this victory, Atlanta matched its longest win streak from last season and this season at four games, taking six of their last seven contests.

Allisha Gray once again led the charge, pouring in 25 points — her eighth game of the season with 25+ points and 13th with 20+, extending her 20+ point streak to three games. Hillmon pulled down 11 rebounds for the second straight game, joining Brionna Jones as the only Dream players this year with back-to-back double-digit rebounding efforts. She also added 7 points and 4 assists.

Off the bench, Nia Coffey provided a spark with 10 second-half points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, marking her fifth double-digit scoring performance this season and her second straight. Canada stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds for her seventh game with 15+ points this season. Paopao added 12 points, notching her seventh double-digit outing and second in a starting role. Four Dream players finished in double figures: Gray (25), Canada (17), Paopao (12), and Coffey (10).

Brionna Jones opened Atlanta’s scoring with a three-pointer to counter Chicago’s early pressure. Canada attacked the lane for a layup, and Paopao connected from deep. Gray got rolling in the paint and at the free throw line, with Canada and Gray combining for 60% of Atlanta’s first-quarter points. The Dream hit 75% from the stripe in the first.

Gray sparked the second quarter with back-to-back buckets, while Paopao set up Jones for an inside finish. Hillmon was solid at the line, and Gray drilled her first three of the night. Canada capped the half with a layup, trimming the deficit to six. Gray’s 7 points in the frame put her in double figures before halftime, and Atlanta shot 83.3% from the line through two quarters.

Gray opened the second half with a deep three, followed by another from Paopao. Hillmon’s free throws and Gray’s layup gave Atlanta its first lead during a 10-0 run. Gray added an and-one to extend the advantage, Paopao scored inside, and Coffey turned a steal into a fast-break layup. Atlanta caught fire, shooting 66.7% from three and 64.3% from the field in the quarter while going on a 15-6 run to take control heading into the fourth.

Canada came out aggressive in the final period, scoring four straight points and later sinking her first three. Paopao nailed her third triple, Canada attacked the rim again, and Coffey reached double figures with an inside bucket. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough delivered the Dream’s ninth three-pointer to seal the win. Canada closed strong with 10 points in the final quarter as Atlanta ended the game on a dominant 17-2 run.

Atlanta (now winners of four straight) will look to keep its streak alive when they face the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday , August 10.