Atlanta Dream Are Becoming One of the Toughest Teams in the WNBA

The Atlanta Dream are only five games into the season, but something about this group already feels different.

Not perfect. But tough. Connected. Relentless.

That feeling showed itself again Sunday afternoon as the Dream erased another late deficit to defeat the Phoenix Mercury 82-80 in front of a sellout crowd at Gateway Center Arena, closing the game on a dominant 24-11 run over the final 4:50. 

“We just have many dogs on this team,” Jordin Canada said postgame. “Everybody’s a dog. Everybody’s gonna fight to the end.” That mindset is quickly becoming the identity of this Atlanta team.

The Dream spent much of Sunday battling uphill after Phoenix jumped out to an early double-digit lead behind Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. Atlanta looked rushed offensively at times, emotional during others and struggled to consistently settle into rhythm through the first three quarters. 

But once the fourth quarter arrived, so did the version of Atlanta that has started turning heads around the league.

Canada controlled the pace. Rhyne Howard delivered another barrage of clutch threes. Angel Reese brought the energy and physicality that kept Atlanta connected emotionally throughout the game. Rookie players made winning plays. The crowd got louder with every possession.

And somehow, based on how Atlanta has been playing early this season, another comeback felt inevitable.

“We knew we’ve been in these situations before for most of the games so far,” Canada said. “We’re a very resilient team. We know what we can do.”

ATLANTA, GA - Naz Hillman scoring a layup, image via Atlanta Dream

Howard led Atlanta with 21 points and eight rebounds, marking her second consecutive 20-point game and the 10th game of her career with six or more made three-pointers. Canada added 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and a career-high 14 assists, tying the current Atlanta Dream franchise record while recording her first double-double of the season. 

But the emotional heartbeat of Atlanta’s comeback may have once again been Reese.

Reese finished with her 52nd career double-double and third of the season, posting 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals while helping stabilize the Dream whenever the game threatened to slip away. Whether it was attacking the basket, fighting on the glass, creating extra possessions or simply bringing energy during tense moments, Reese’s fingerprints were all over the comeback.

And her teammates are noticing the difference.

“She’s doing all the little things we haven’t done in the past,” Howard said. “Oftentimes we would have folded, but because of the tenacity she brings, because of the energy she brings, we have no choice but to follow her.”

That quote may define Atlanta’s early season better than any stat.

Because this Dream team does not look rattled for long.

Even in a physical game filled with technical fouls, questionable flagrant calls  and emotional swings, Atlanta kept regrouping. “There were a lot of times we probably could have crashed out a little bit more,” Reese said. “But I think we did a good job down the stretch.”

That ability to reset has quickly become one of Atlanta’s biggest strengths.

The Dream are still growing. Head coach Karl Smesko acknowledged afterward there are still plenty of things the team needs to clean up. But what stands out is Atlanta’s ability to improve while continuing to win close games against playoff-level intensity.

“I think we’re getting better,” Smesko said. “I think we have the desire to improve, which is a big part of it.”

That growth is happening across the roster.

Allisha Gray added 18 points and a steal Sunday, while rookies Isobel Borlase and Indya Nivar both delivered momentum-shifting moments off the bench. Borlase finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists, including a massive fourth-quarter three during Atlanta’s closing run. Nivar also knocked down the first three-pointer of her WNBA career. 

Atlanta also moved the ball at a high level throughout stretches of the game, recording eight assists in the second quarter — the team’s highest assist total in a quarter this season. 

“We know anybody on this team can score,” Reese said. “Everybody contributes in their small little ways. Everybody just shows up, because that’s what Atlanta basketball looks like.”

The Final Cut

Sunday’s win pushed Atlanta to 4-1 on the season and continued the strong early run from the Dream’s starting unit. The Dream may still be figuring themselves out.

But they are already becoming a team nobody wants to face.