Atlanta Dream Advance to WNBA Semifinals with Victory Over Washington Mystics

Allisha Gray scored 22 points, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 93-75 victory over the Washington Mystics. Jordin Canada added 19 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter, propelling the Dream to their first semifinals appearance since 2018. This marked a significant achievement as Atlanta had been eliminated in the first round for the past three seasons.

The game took place at CareFirst Arena, with Atlanta set to host Game 1 of the semifinals against New York on Sunday. New York surprised many by sweeping Minnesota, becoming the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the league’s history.

Canada’s performance was crucial, with consecutive 3-pointers and a jumper from the free-throw line, extending Atlanta’s lead to 89-70 with under three minutes remaining. Her impressive stats included 11 assists and seven rebounds. Rhyne Howard contributed by scoring 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Teammates Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon had 15 and 10 points respectively.

For Washington, Sonia Citron stood out, scoring 25 points. Kiki Iriafen made history with 15 points and 16 rebounds, becoming the first player in franchise history to achieve a first-half double-double in a playoff game. Despite trailing 41-28 late in the first half, Washington made a 7-0 run, closing in on Atlanta’s lead by halftime.

A third-quarter surge saw Washington narrow the gap with a 14-2 run, bringing the score to 65-62. However, Atlanta responded with 13 straight points, securing their advantage with a decisive 3-pointer by Canada. Despite their setback, this game marked Washington’s first playoff since their 2019 championship win.