Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream had every chance to end their road trip on a high note. Instead, a costly late-game sequence and a night of frigid shooting sent them home with their fourth straight loss, an 81-76 defeat to the Washington Mystics on Thursday at CareFirst Arena.
The Dream (12-8) leave Washington having dropped all four games of their trip, but the night wasn’t without silver linings — Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada both reached significant career milestones, even as the offense sputtered against a Mystics team that couldn’t miss.
Atlanta shot just 36.3% from the field and 22.6% from three, numbers that would sink most teams outright. What kept the Dream in it was defense: they forced 28 Washington turnovers and converted them into 28 points. It very nearly proved enough against a Mystics squad that shot a scorching 55.4% overall and 56.3% from deep.
“Coach talked about in the locker room of us being tested right now,” Canada said afterward. “We’ve gone through adversity on this road trip, and it’s up to us to figure out how we’re going to come together. There’s been a lot of things that have not gone our way on this road trip, and to be honest, throughout our season, but I think at the end of the day we’re going to figure it out.”
How It Unfolded
Washington jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before Atlanta answered with eight straight points to grab a four-point cushion. The Mystics clawed back to edge the first quarter 23-22.
The Dream took control in the second quarter, outscoring Washington by 10 to take a 41-32 lead into the break, powered by a combined 23 first-half points from Rhyne Howard and Gray.
Washington chipped away in the third, cutting the deficit to four entering the fourth, and the game turned into a genuine street fight down the stretch. Kiki Iriafen sparked an 8-0 Mystics run that flipped a two-point Atlanta lead into a 67-65 Washington advantage with 6:28 to go. Howard answered immediately with a three to put the Dream back in front, 68-67, and the teams traded blows the rest of the way.
Angel Reese’s spinning hook shot pulled Atlanta within two, 78-76, with 1:12 remaining, and both teams missed long jumpers on the ensuing possessions. That set up the game’s decisive sequence: Naz Hillmon, playing off the bench for the second straight game, fouled Alicia Florez with 5 seconds left on the shot clock and 12.5 seconds left in the game. Atlanta’s defense held on the inbounds play well enough that officials initially signaled a five-second violation — before reversing the call, ruling Washington had called timeout just before the violation occurred. The Mystics converted a free throw out of the timeout to seal it.
It was the second time in three games the Dream voiced frustration with the officiating.
“I think our players have a right to be frustrated with that,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “We’re going to have to figure out how to win some games, despite, I would say sub-par … officiating.”
Canada pointed to a specific sequence as an example — a foul called against her for a collision after touching the ball, then a no-call on the same type of play against Washington later in the game.
“Anytime we tried to play physical, it was always a foul call,” Canada said. “So, I think the officiating has to be better.”
Washington’s win extended its own streak to two straight, powered by Shakira Austin’s game-high 21 points and a fourth consecutive double-double from Iriafen (14 points, 10 rebounds). Rookie Alicia Florez added a career-high 13 points off the bench, including a backbreaking step-back three with just over three minutes to play.
Milestones Amid the Loss
Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 24 points, adding a team-high five steals — her third five-steal game of the season.
Allisha Gray finished with 17 points and made the 1,500th field goal of her career with 7:42 left in the second quarter, becoming the 57th player in WNBA history to reach that mark. The milestone continues a career that’s taken Gray from 2017 Rookie of the Year with Dallas to one of Atlanta’s cornerstone scorers since a January 2023 trade brought her to the Dream — a move that’s since produced a 2023 All-Star nod and a string of 20-point nights.
Jordin Canada added 10 points, seven assists and two steals, with her second steal of the night marking the 400th of her career. It’s a fitting milestone for a player who has led the league in steals twice (2019 and 2023) and earned WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors in both of those seasons, dating back to a rookie year in Seattle that ended with a championship ring.
Angel Reese posted her second double-double against Washington this season and her 13th of the year, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds, though she was limited to 16 first-half minutes after picking up her third foul.
Atlanta’s all-time record against Washington moved to 33-35 overall and 14-21 on the road with the loss.
Up Next
The Dream return home to Gateway Center Arena for a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday against the Golden State Valkyries — a chance to snap the skid in front of the home crowd after a trip that tested this team at every turn.
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