Dream Tie Franchise Win Record with Thrilling Victory Over Lynx

The Atlanta Dream closed out their regular-season series against the Minnesota Lynx in dramatic fashion, pulling out a 75-73 win at Gateway Center Arena. With the victory, Atlanta improves its all-time record against Minnesota to 14-32 overall and 8-15 at home, while also taking the season series 2-1. The win also marked a historic milestone—Atlanta’s 23rd of the year—tying the franchise record for most wins in a single season, first set back in 2018.

The Dream rolled out a starting lineup of Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones for the first time this season, moving to 1-0 with that combination. Gray led the way with a brilliant 27-point performance, adding four rebounds, two assists, and three steals. It was her ninth game with at least 25 points this year and her 15th scoring 20 or more. Howard chipped in 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, marking her 14th game with 15+ points.

Paopao, making her eighth start, provided a steady hand with eight points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals—her fourth game as the team’s assist leader. Hillmon anchored the glass, pulling down a team-high nine rebounds while dishing three assists and snagging a steal.

The game was a battle from start to finish. In the first quarter, Howard got going early with eight points, including a steal-and-score, while Griner added a spark off the bench. Brionna Jones capped the quarter with a buzzer-beating layup, as Atlanta closed on a 12-2 run to take a 25-24 lead.

The second quarter saw the Dream defense crank up the pressure, forcing seven turnovers and turning them into nine points. Maya Caldwell and Paopao knocked down back-to-back threes, and Gray added one of her own to push the lead into double digits. Atlanta held a slim 42-40 edge at halftime.

Coming out of the break, Gray and Jones fueled the offense, with Jones converting multiple key finishes inside. Howard and Hillmon kept the Dream steady with strong defensive plays and rebounds, as Atlanta entered the fourth quarter within striking distance.

The final frame belonged to Gray, who poured in nine points, including an and-one three-pointer and another clutch triple. Hillmon dominated the glass with five boards in the quarter, while Paopao buried a huge corner three off a feed from Caldwell. Howard drilled a deep shot in the closing minutes, and Caldwell calmly iced the game at the line with two free throws in the final 22 seconds. Atlanta outscored Minnesota 21-13 in the fourth to lock up the 75-73 win.

With momentum and history on their side, the Dream now turn their focus to Saturday, August 23, when they’ll take on the New York Liberty at Gateway Center Arena. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET.