Dream Dominate Mystics on Pride Night, Roll to 109-77 Victory

The Atlanta Dream put together one of their most complete performances of the season Saturday night.

Powered by suffocating defense, balanced scoring, and a dominant effort on the glass, the Dream cruised past the Washington Mystics 109-77 at Gateway Center Arena during Pride Night and Commissioner’s Cup action.

The victory improves Atlanta to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play while helping raise the organization’s Commissioner’s Cup charitable contribution to $7,000 for The King Center.

If there was any question about what identity this Atlanta team wants to establish under head coach Karl Smesko, Saturday provided another answer.

Defense.

The Dream entered the game as one of the WNBA’s top defensive teams and immediately showed why.

On the very first possession of the game, Rhyne Howard jumped a passing lane and recorded a steal, moving into fourth place on Atlanta’s all-time steals list. It was just the beginning of another impressive defensive performance for the Dream star.

Howard finished with six steals, tying her career high while adding a team-high 19 points.

Angel Reese echoed her coach’s sentiment after the game.

“I think our defense is our identity,” Reese said.

That identity was on full display.

Atlanta forced 17 Washington turnovers and converted those mistakes into 26 points. The Dream’s defensive pressure never allowed the Mystics to settle into a rhythm and helped fuel several scoring runs throughout the night.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point.

Already holding a comfortable lead, Atlanta completely overwhelmed Washington after halftime, outscoring the Mystics 32-18 in the period while holding them to just 13 points for much of the quarter.

The Dream’s defense created easy opportunities in transition while the offense continued clicking on all cylinders.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

What made the performance even more impressive was how many different players contributed.

Every eligible player who entered the game scored.

Atlanta finished with 109 points, tied for the second-highest scoring output in franchise history, while showcasing the type of depth that could become a major factor throughout the season.

The bench was particularly impressive.

The Dream finished with 40 points from their reserves, led by rookies and young contributors who continued making the most of their opportunities.

Madina Okot finished with 11 points, five rebounds and a steal while knocking down the first three-pointer of her WNBA career.

Sika Kone added nine points and six rebounds while providing physical play in the paint.

Meanwhile, rookie Isobel Borlase delivered another strong performance off the bench.

Nicknamed the “Smooth Criminal” by Reese, Borlase scored a career-high nine points while adding two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Together, Borlase, Okot and Indya Nivar accounted for 22 points and provided a major spark whenever they entered the game.

“Everybody came in and contributed,” Smesko said. “I would say our bench getting extended minutes and making the most of it was our most positive part of today.”

The offensive execution was equally impressive.

Atlanta moved the ball exceptionally well and consistently found quality shots throughout the night. The Dream used a 16-4 run over the final 4:11 of the first quarter to seize momentum and never looked back.

Four starters finished in double figures while multiple players contributed as facilitators.

Jordin Canada scored 11 points and dished out five assists. Allisha Gray added 15 points and five assists while continuing her consistent play on both ends of the floor.

Howard not only led the team in scoring but also provided defensive leadership with six steals.

Then there was Angel Reese.

The second-year star continued adding to her growing list of accomplishments.

Reese finished with 18 points and a season-high 17 rebounds while recording her seventh double-double of the season and the 56th of her career.

She also added four steals, helping the Dream collect 16 steals as a team.

With her four steals, Reese surpassed 100 career steals, adding another milestone to an already impressive young career.

Atlanta also dominated the glass.

The Dream finished with 42 rebounds and repeatedly created second-chance opportunities through hustle and physicality. Reese led the effort, but contributions came throughout the lineup.

The starting five of Canada, Gray, Howard, Naz Hillmon and Reese improved to 7-2 together this season.

Hillmon added 12 points and five rebounds while continuing her strong recent stretch of play.

Te-Hina Paopao also reached a milestone of her own, eclipsing 300 career points after knocking down a big third-quarter three-pointer.

By night’s end, the Dream had delivered a statement performance.

Elite defense, Balanced offense, Bench production, and Rebounding dominance.

Everything Atlanta has been building toward this season was on display.

Next up, the Dream head to the Windy City for a matchup against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, June 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET as Atlanta looks to build on one of its most dominant victories of the 2026 season.