Dream Clamp Down Late, Stay Unbeaten With 77-72 Win Over Wings

 

The Atlanta Dream are proving early this season they can win ugly — and more importantly, win tough.

Atlanta locked in defensively in the fourth quarter and pulled away late for a 77-72 win over the Dallas Wings Tuesday night at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, improving to 2-0 on the young season.

After rallying from a 17-point deficit against Minnesota in the opener, the Dream once again showed resilience, turning a one-point deficit entering the fourth quarter into their second straight road victory.

The offense still isn’t fully clicking yet, but the defense continues to carry Atlanta when it matters most.

The Dream held Dallas to just 33.3% shooting in the final quarter and forced the Wings into difficult looks throughout the night. Dallas finished just 4-for-26 from three-point range while shooting 38.4% overall.

Meanwhile, Atlanta found enough offense late behind another huge night from Allisha Gray.

Gray poured in 26 points and knocked down four three-pointers, continuing her hot start to the season. Jordin Canada added 19 points, while Angel Reese recorded her second straight double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Rhyne Howard chipped in 14 points and was perfect from the free throw line, going 7-for-7.

“We haven’t shot the ball well in either game, and we’re still working out some things, just like everybody else, but showing a lot of toughness down the stretch in both games,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko said. “They just pulled together, made the plays when they needed to.”

Atlanta trailed by as many as nine in the second quarter and entered halftime down three, but the momentum shifted midway through the third.

A 9-0 Dream run — capped by free throws from Gray — gave Atlanta its first real breathing room of the night and pushed the lead to six.

“My teammates set me up in good spots for me to be able to get to my spots and hit my shots,” Gray said. “And I just started out aggressive tonight.”

Dallas answered back behind Arike Ogunbowale and took a 59-58 lead entering the fourth, but that’s when Atlanta completely tightened up defensively.

The Dream controlled the glass, limited second-chance opportunities and forced Dallas into tough half-court possessions.

Gray then took over.

Back-to-back three-pointers from opposite wings quickly flipped the momentum, while Canada attacked the basket for a layup that pushed Atlanta ahead by six early in the fourth.

Dallas cut the deficit to three after an Ogunbowale jumper, but Atlanta never lost control again.

Gray answered with a layup, Canada buried another three, and the Dream stretched the lead back to seven with under four minutes remaining to seal the win.

“Allisha had a really good run to help get us separated a little bit, but everybody contributed, and it’s a great team win,” Smesko said.

Atlanta’s starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Naz Hillmon and Reese improved to 2-0 together.

The night also featured several milestones and memorable moments.

Reese secured her second consecutive double-double, Gray grabbed her 1,000th career defensive rebound, and rookie Indya Nivar saw her first WNBA minutes. Rookie Isobel Borlase also knocked down her first career WNBA basket with a timely three-pointer off the bench.

Atlanta also dominated at the free throw line, shooting 94% overall.

Now the challenge gets even bigger.

The Dream will return home Sunday to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena.

“I just know with the Aces being such a great team, we can’t have those slow starts,” Gray said. “They’ll definitely take advantage of it.”

But through two games, one thing is already clear — this Atlanta team is showing the grit, toughness and defensive identity needed to compete with anyone in the league. Even while still working through offensive chemistry and early-season adjustments, the Dream continue finding ways to close games when it matters most.

If Atlanta can clean up the slow starts while maintaining this level of defensive intensity, the Dream may quickly establish themselves as one of the toughest teams in the WNBA to beat.

And with the defending champions coming to Atlanta, Sunday’s matchup against the Aces will be an early measuring stick to see just how far this Dream team has already come.