With 5.5 seconds left and the score knotted at 91, Karl Smesko drew up one final play. Jordin Canada slipped free, took the pass, and laid it in as the clock expired — a 93-91 walk-off that sent Gateway Center Arena into a frenzy and handed the Atlanta Dream the 300th win in franchise history.
It was the kind of finish that will live on the highlight reel, but it capped a night that was earned possession by possession — through a blistering first half, a nervy third-quarter swoon, and a fourth-quarter response that showed exactly why this team keeps finding ways to win close ones.
A Statement Start
Atlanta came out of the gate with speed and force. Brionna Jones, making her home debut, was everywhere — 10 rebounds and 8 points in more than 15 minutes of work, setting a physical tone inside that Chicago never quite solved. Off the bench, Jaylyn Sherrod and Izzy Borlase added instant juice on both ends, helping the Dream build an early cushion while the Sky searched for answers.
The perimeter game was humming too. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard combined for six 3-pointers in the first half alone, stretching the floor and forcing Chicago to pick its poison. Running the show in the middle of it all was Canada, who piled up seven assists before the break, threading the offense together possession after possession.
Gray’s night carried extra weight beyond the box score. Her 16th point of the game moved her into 5th place on the Dream’s all-time scoring list, passing franchise legend Érika de Souza — a milestone that landed almost quietly amid the run-and-gun pace, but one worth pausing on.
Chicago Claws Back
No lead is safe against a team playing with its season on the line, and the Sky proved it. Sydney Taylor beat the second-quarter buzzer with a half-court three that swung momentum right before the break, and Chicago carried it into the third with an 8-0 run that Atlanta simply couldn’t stop in time.
Jones and Gray tried to hold the fort late in the third, providing enough of a spark to keep the Dream’s nose in front, but the Sky kept answering. This was no longer a laugher — it was a fight.
Okot’s Fourth-Quarter Surge
That’s when Madina Okot took over. Coming off the bench in the fourth quarter, Okot found quick buckets in bunches, finishing with 14 points and keeping Atlanta’s offense afloat when the game threatened to slip away.
“I thought she was great down the stretch — we had a situation where we were short in the post, [and] we went to Madina,” Smesko said.
The defensive end mattered just as much down the stretch. Jones checked back in late for a crucial defensive rebound, wrestling away a possession Atlanta desperately needed.
“I mean, she’s such a great player and just so smart — she’s really good in those situations,” Smesko said of Jones’ impact.
The Finish
With the score tied and the clock bleeding out, Smesko went back to the well. His final design got Canada loose for a clean look, and she calmly finished the layup as time expired — the dagger that turned a back-and-forth battle into a franchise milestone.
The building felt every bit of it.
“We appreciate the energy — their energy really keeps us going and keeps them up. We really appreciate them,” Gray said of the crowd’s role in the win.
What’s Next
Atlanta heads into the All-Star break with three representatives — Gray, Howard and Reese — set to play in the 2026 AT&T All-Star Game in Chicago on July 25th. When the Dream return, it’ll be on the road against Dallas on July 29th.
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