By: Audrey Pfitzner
For the first time since 2018, the Atlanta Dream have clinched a playoff spot, ending the longest drought in franchise history.
The No. 5 seeded Atlanta Dream (19-21) are set to play the No. 4 seeded Dallas Wings (22-18) in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs.
The Dream finished the season third in the Eastern Conference, while the Wings were second in the West.
Game 1 will be played at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas on Friday, Sept. 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
This matchup is a repeat of the regular-season finale Sunday when Dallas topped Atlanta 94-77. The Wings swept all three games against the Dream in regular season play.
Guard Arike Ogunbowale has been unstoppable on the court for the Wings offense, putting up an average 20.9 points per game. Ogunbowale has led the team for the past four seasons, but breakout seasons by Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard and Teaira McCowan have contributed to the Wings’ on-court success.
Ogunbowale capped off her regular season scoring 32 points against an Atlanta Dream team that struggled throughout the month of August.
Dallas ranks third in league scoring with an average of 87.9 points per game, while the Dream ranks fifth with 82.5.
The Dream have faced adversity both on and off the court since the team’s last playoff appearance in 2018. In the span of four years, the franchise gained new ownership, moved home arenas, and had four different head coaches and three draft lottery picks.
These changes did not stop Rhyne Howard from making an immediate impact. The 2022 No. 1 draft pick and Rookie of the Year and has led the team in points, rebounds and steals per game this season.
Howard, along with Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker, has accounted for approximately 60% of the team’s offensive productivity. Of these three players, one has led the team in scoring in every regular-season game.
Howard finished the regular-season as the Dream’s top scorer with 681 total points, setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made. Parker and Gray also reached over 600 points this season. They became the third trio in WNBA history to all reach the 600-mark in a single season.
The Dream won’t solely rely on their record-setting trio though.
Naz Hillmon sparked offense during the team’s latest outing against the Wings, scoring eight points and recording six rebounds in her 16 minutes of playing time.
“Naz’s energy changed the last few weeks, and just her voice, her leadership, her intensity, her energy. I think it was contagious, really contagious for the rest of the group,” head coach Tanisha Wright said.
The Dream’s regular season has been a rollercoaster. There have been winning streaks of both seven and three games, but also four different three-game losing streaks.
Statistically the Dream has been marginally better on their home court going 11-9. They start the playoffs as road warriors as the higher seeded Dallas hosts games 1 and 2. Home advantage favors the Wings who have also been better in front of a home crowd.
The environment and energy will be elevated and the stakes will be higher.
Playoff experience will also play a factor in the series. The Wings have made the playoffs in five of the eight seasons the team has called Dallas home, but have not made it past the first round since 2009, when the franchise was in Detroit. Atlanta has not made a playoff appearance since 2018, when they lost in the semifinals.
Atlanta only returns one player from the 2018 playoff team, Monique Billings.
The Dream will lean on the experience of Billings and head coach Tanisha Wright to lead them to victory this playoff run. Wright played in the WNBA for 14 seasons winning a championship with the Seattle Storm in 2010, before becoming a coach.
“There’s always going to be a little bit of nerves I think, because the stakes are a little bit different. You’re in a position to now contend for a championship once you get to the playoffs. But you know, that’s you know, that’s what sports is,” said Wright.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Friday, Sept. 15, Atlanta at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Game 2: Tuesday, Sept. 19, Atlanta at Dallas, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Friday, Sept. 22, Dallas at Atlanta, TBD, ESPN2
*-If necessary