Gray, Hillmon Power Dream Past Mercury for Fifth Straight Win

The Atlanta Dream kept their hottest stretch of the season rolling Sunday night, completing a season sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 74-66 win on the road. Behind balanced scoring, dominant rebounding, and another suffocating defensive effort, Atlanta improved to 20-10 — becoming just the third team in franchise history to notch 20 or more wins in a season and the first to do it since 2018. The victory also marked the Dream’s fifth straight, their longest winning streak of the year.

The starting five of Jordin Canada, Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones improved to 2-0 together, and the Dream’s all-time series record against Phoenix moved to 17-29 overall (5-18 on the road).

Naz Hillmon set the tone early and never let up, delivering her third double-double of the year with 13 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while hitting all of her free throws. Jones matched her inside presence with a team-leading ninth double-double of the season — 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and one steal — and set a new season-high in blocks.

Gray fueled the offense in the second half, pouring in 12 of her 17 points after halftime. She added five rebounds, five assists, and a steal, marking her 21st game of the year with at least 15 points. Canada kept the pressure on Phoenix throughout, scoring 13 points and recording her 14th double-digit game of the season. In total, Atlanta had four players in double figures: Gray (17), Jones (15), Canada (13), and Hillmon (13).

Atlanta came out sharp in the first quarter, with Paopao hitting from inside and beyond the arc before Jones powered inside and Hillmon drilled a corner three at the buzzer. The Dream shot 50% from three in the opening frame and controlled the paint.

The second quarter saw the game’s biggest momentum swing, as the Dream ripped off a 15-0 run during a Mercury scoring drought that lasted over five minutes. Hillmon, Jones, and Gray combined for key baskets, and Canada’s coast-to-coast layup capped the surge. Atlanta entered halftime firmly in control.

Phoenix made a push in the third, briefly taking a three-point lead, but the Dream responded with defense — three blocks and two steals in the quarter — and timely buckets from Canada and Gray.

In the fourth, Caldwell scored inside to open the frame before Gray’s and-one put Atlanta firmly back in front. Jones delivered back-to-back baskets, including a rare three-pointer, and Gray knocked down her first triple of the night. Hillmon’s late free throws sealed her double-double and the Dream’s fifth straight win.

Atlanta now heads to Seattle to face the Storm on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET.