After six years away from the postseason's deeper rounds, the Atlanta Dream returned to the WNBA semifinals Tuesday night in Washington, dispatching the Mystics 83-75 in a performance that reflected both their regular-season dominance and their long-held ambition. Led by Allisha Gray's 22 points and a decisive third-quarter surge, Atlanta reminded the league that a team carrying years of near-misses can still find its moment. They now face the New York Liberty — a No. 8 seed that just made history — in a semifinal that asks which kind of hunger burns hotter: the patience of a team finally arri
Atlanta Dream reach WNBA semifinals for first time since 2018 with playoff win
Atlanta answered with 13 unanswered points of their own
Mark
So Atlanta was the one seed in the East and they're just now getting back to the semifinals? That seems like they should have been there more recently.
Mimi
They finished with the best regular-season record in the conference, but they've had trouble closing it out in the playoffs. This is their first semifinal appearance since 2018—six years is a long time to wait.
Luke
Right, but we should be clear: they're a good regular-season team. That doesn't always translate. The fact that they haven't been back to the Finals since 2013 tells you something about what happens when the games get tighter.
Mark
What was the difference in this game? It sounds like it wasn't that close by the end.
Mimi
The third quarter was the turning point. Washington got within three, but then Atlanta just went on a 13-point run and basically put it away. Gray had 22, Howard had 15, Reese had 15 and seven boards. They had the firepower.
Luke
Washington also turned the ball over 11 times in the first half. That's not really about Atlanta being great—that's Washington beating themselves early.
Mark
Fair point. So now they face New York, who just did something historic?
Mimi
The Liberty swept Minnesota, the one seed. First time an eight seed has ever knocked out a one seed in WNBA history. It's a big deal.
Luke
Though we should note: Atlanta is favored going in. The Liberty's upset run doesn't necessarily mean they're the better team going forward. One series doesn't rewrite the season.
Mark
When do they play?
Mimi
Sunday in Atlanta. Game 1 of the semifinals.
O Pulso
- Washington briefly threatened to rewrite the night, rattling off 14 straight third-quarter points to close within three and force Atlanta to answer under real pressure.
- Atlanta answered emphatically — 13 unanswered points capped by a Jordin Canada three-pointer swung the lead back to 16 and effectively ended Washington's hopes.
- Canada kept twisting the knife in the fourth quarter, burying back-to-back threes and a mid-range jumper to push the margin to 19 with the game no longer in doubt.
- Washington's 11 first-half turnovers were a self-inflicted wound that made Atlanta's path easier, exposing the fragility beneath the Mystics' playoff comeback story.
- The Dream now face the New York Liberty — the first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to eliminate a No. 1 — in a Sunday semifinal that pits six years of waiting against one of the sport's most stunning upsets.
After six years away from the postseason's deeper rounds, the Atlanta Dream returned to the WNBA semifinals Tuesday night in Washington, dispatching the Mystics 83-75 in a performance that reflected both their regular-season dominance and their long-held ambition. Led by Allisha Gray's 22 points and a decisive third-quarter surge, Atlanta reminded the league that a team carrying years of near-misses can still find its moment. They now face the New York Liberty — a No. 8 seed that just made history — in a semifinal that asks which kind of hunger burns hotter: the patience of a team finally arrived, or the audacity of one that was never supposed to be here.
The Atlanta Dream's six-year absence from the WNBA semifinals ended Tuesday night in Washington, where they eliminated the Mystics 83-75 in Game 2 of their first-round series. It was a composed, authoritative performance from a team that had spent the regular season atop the Eastern Conference — and it carried the weight of years spent trying to get back to this stage.
Allisha Gray led the way with 22 points, providing the steadiness Atlanta needed when the game briefly tightened. Rhyne Howard added 15 before fouling out late, and Angel Reese contributed 15 points and seven rebounds. Together, the three formed the backbone of a team that has been knocking on this door for years.
The decisive moment came in the third quarter. Washington scored 14 straight to pull within three at 65-62, threatening to make a real game of it. Atlanta responded with 13 unanswered points of their own, capped by a Jordin Canada three-pointer that pushed the lead to 16. Canada continued to punish Washington in the fourth, hitting back-to-back threes and a mid-range jumper to extend the advantage to 19. Washington, who had already committed 11 turnovers in the first half alone, never found a way back.
For the Mystics, the loss closed a chapter on their first playoff appearance since winning the 2019 championship. For Atlanta, it opens one. The Dream have won the Eastern Conference title three times but have never claimed a WNBA championship — and Sunday's semifinal against the New York Liberty is their next step toward it. The Liberty, who became the first No. 8 seed in league history to eliminate a No. 1 seed by sweeping Minnesota, arrive with a story of their own. Atlanta will be favored. But the Liberty have already proven that the bracket's expectations mean very little.
The Atlanta Dream have not been to the WNBA semifinals since 2018. That drought ended Tuesday night in Washington, where they beat the Mystics 83-75 in Game 2 of their first-round series, securing passage to the next round for the first time in six years. It was a decisive performance from a team that had finished the regular season with the Eastern Conference's best record—and it came with little drama in the final minutes.
Allisha Gray carried the load for Atlanta, finishing with 22 points and steering the Dream's offense through the moments that mattered most. Rhyne Howard, the top overall pick from the 2022 draft, added 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese chipped in 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds. The three of them formed the core of a team that had spent four years trying to get back to this stage.
The game turned decisively in the third quarter. Washington mounted a run early in the period, scoring 14 straight points to pull within three at 65-62. But Atlanta answered with 13 unanswered points of their own, capped by a three-pointer from Jordin Canada that pushed the lead back to 16 at 78-62. That sequence essentially decided the outcome. Washington never recovered.
Canada was particularly sharp down the stretch. She made back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter, then added a jumper from the free-throw line to extend Atlanta's advantage to 19 with just under three minutes remaining. By that point, the game was over. Washington had committed 11 turnovers in the first half alone, a self-inflicted wound that made Atlanta's job easier.
For the Mystics, this loss marked the end of their first playoff appearance since they won the WNBA championship in 2019. They had clawed their way back to relevance this season, but they could not sustain it when it mattered most. Atlanta, by contrast, has been knocking on the door. The Dream won the Eastern Conference title three times between 2010 and 2013, but they have never won a WNBA championship. This run to the semifinals is a step toward that goal.
Atlanta's next opponent will be the New York Liberty, who arrive in the semifinals with a remarkable story of their own. The Liberty swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in their first-round series, becoming the first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to eliminate a No. 1 seed. Game 1 of the semifinal matchup is scheduled for Sunday in Atlanta. The Dream will be favored, but the Liberty have already proven they belong on this stage.
Citações Notáveis
Atlanta scored 13 consecutive points in the third quarter after Washington had pulled within three, rebuilding a double-digit lead at 78-62— Game summary
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