Dream Dominate in the Paint, Top Mercury on the Road

The Atlanta Dream put together one of their most complete performances of the season in a 90–78 road win over the Phoenix Mercury, improving to 2-2 with the starting lineup of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner.

It was a milestone night for Canada, who surpassed the 2,000-point career mark after scoring 14 points to go along with 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal. Her composure and tempo control helped Atlanta carve up Phoenix’s defense in transition and the half court.

Allisha Gray was once again the engine for Atlanta’s offense, leading the way with 28 points—her second straight 20+ point outing and 10th such performance this season. She added 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a well-rounded showing.

Griner, returning to Phoenix for the first time in a Dream jersey, looked right at home. She finished with 17 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough gave Atlanta a huge lift off the bench, pouring in a season-high 11 points. Naz Hillmon added 9 points and 3 assists, giving the Dream much-needed balance and energy from the second unit.

In total, four Atlanta players finished in double figures—Gray (28), Griner (17), Canada (14), and Walker-Kimbrough (11).

The Dream were efficient and unselfish, shooting 50% from the field and dishing out 25 assists to just 18 from Phoenix. They outscored the Mercury 42–24 in the paint and hit nearly 42% from three-point range, keeping pressure on the defense all night.

The win pushes Atlanta to 15–29 all-time against Phoenix, including just 4–18 on the road—a stat that underscores how big this victory was for the squad.

Next up, the Dream look to carry their momentum into Minnesota when they face the Lynx on Sunday, July 27.