The Atlanta Dream has achieved a significant milestone by advancing to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2018. They defeated the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2 of their first-round series on a Wednesday night.
Jordin Canada was instrumental in the Dream’s success, scoring 19 points, with 13 of those points coming in the decisive fourth quarter. Her performance included back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a jumper for an 89-70 lead. In addition to scoring, Canada also contributed 11 assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
Allisha Gray led the scoring with 22 points. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese each added 15 points, while Naz Hillmon contributed 10 points. Howard fouled out with 6:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Sonia Citron was the leading scorer for Washington with 25 points. Kiki Iriafen made history for the Mystics, achieving a first-half double-double in a playoff game with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Despite these efforts, the Mystics struggled with turnovers, committing 11 in the first half.
The Mystics made a strong push in the third quarter with a 14-2 run, narrowing the gap to 65-62. However, the Dream responded with a decisive 13-point streak, solidifying their lead with 78-62.
Washington made its first playoff appearance since their 2019 championship win but fell short of advancing further. Meanwhile, Atlanta is set to host New York in Game 1 of the semifinals on Sunday. New York has made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.