Dream Leadership Reflects on Finals Run and Outlines Offseason Priorities

The Atlanta Dream came within five points of a championship. On October 31, the Golden State Valkyries defeated Atlanta 68-63 at Chase Center in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, winning the series 4-3 and claiming the title in just their second season.

For the Dream, the loss was painful. But in their November 6 media availability, general manager Dan Padover and head coach Karl Smesko made it clear that Atlanta’s Finals run was a step forward—and that the work to get back starts now.

“I’m just as excited for what’s to come in the future,” Padover said.

The final score did not tell the whole story of a game that swung several times. Golden State opened with an 8-0 run, but Atlanta answered with an 11-2 stretch. The Dream then started the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 21-16 lead.

The Valkyries found their footing late in the third quarter, using a 17-7 run to take a one-point lead into the fourth. Golden State kept pushing, closing with a 7-0 run to go ahead 64-57 with less than a minute remaining. Atlanta kept competing, but the Valkyries held on.

Golden State’s Gabby Williams took over in the second half. She scored 28 of her 30 points after halftime, the most points by a player in one half in WNBA playoff history. Williams was named Finals MVP after averaging 19.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals in the series. Her 30-point performance made her only the second player, alongside Penny Taylor in 2007, to score at least 30 points in a winner-take-all Finals game.

Atlanta was held to 33.3% shooting from the field, marking the fifth time in the series the Dream shot below 35%. Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18 points and five assists, scoring 11 of the Dream’s 18 points in the second quarter. Allisha Gray added 16 points and six rebounds, while Angel Reese grabbed 12 rebounds.

The Dream also made their mark in the record book. Reese set a WNBA Finals series record with 24 offensive rebounds. DeWanna Bonner, already the league’s all-time leader in defensive rebounds in the playoffs, became the first WNBA player to reach 600 career playoff defensive rebounds. Canada finished second in Finals history with 41 assists in the series and moved to 25th on the league’s career assists list.

Smesko called the ending painful, but said the Dream have a foundation to build on. “The next step is to finish what was there this year,” he said. “I definitely think that we’re capable of taking a big step forward next year.”

The coach said his staff will review the entire season, not only the final game. He keeps notes throughout the year and plans to revisit decisions, team performance and the small details that can decide a championship. Smesko said Atlanta will also study other teams and look for changes that could help the Dream become more efficient.

One area he highlighted was defensive playmaking. After reviewing the prior season, the coaching staff emphasized creating more defensive plays. Smesko said the Dream led the league in deflections this season. That kind of adjustment, he said, is the sort of detail that can help move a team closer to its goal.

Depth will also be part of the offseason conversation. The WNBA schedule is set to expand to 50 games next season, and Smesko said a deeper rotation could help manage minutes and wear during the regular season. Atlanta relied heavily on its starting group, while players including Izzy Borlase and Dewanna Bonner stepped up during the postseason. Padover said the organization will evaluate its bench and consider improvements through player development and possible roster additions.

Padover also addressed Angel Reese’s future. Reese’s All-WNBA Second Team selection makes her eligible for an extension, though the league’s salary-cap information is not expected until February. Padover said the Dream have planned for their future cap situation and feel good about their position. He praised Reese’s season and said the team is looking forward to having her back.

Both leaders credited the Atlanta community for embracing the team during its run. Padover said he felt the city’s support everywhere—from conversations with neighbors to sellout crowds at State Farm Arena. Smesko said the experience brought the group together, and he hopes the team can turn the disappointment into growth.

The Valkyries made history with their championship, but Atlanta showed it can compete on the biggest stage. The Dream now face the challenge of building on that run, improving the details and returning with another opportunity to finish the job.