The Atlanta Dream could be without starting forward Rhyne Howard (knee) and center Brittney Griner (neck) for their game against the visiting Washington Mystics on Sunday.
But as their 95-72 rout of the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night showed, the Dream doesn’t always need its best players to play like one of the best teams in the WNBA.
Minus Howard and Griner, the Dream (17-11) got 26 points on 12 shot attempts from Allisha Gray, plus 18 points from Naz Hillmon and 16 from Brionna Jones. Atlanta shot 51.5 percent from the floor and went 13 of 31 from 3-point range.
“The last few games, the ball has moved really well, our spacing has been better, there are more players reading,” Dream first-year head coach Karl Smesko said. “You can see the cutting for baskets and stuff like that. This is a new system for them, and I think they’re getting more comfortable within it.”
The Dream’s 84.0 points per game are fifth most and their 11.7 turnovers are lowest in the WNBA. Factor in their league-high rebounding total (36.3) and it’s safe to say that Smesko, who turned Florida Gulf Coast into a mid-major power, is working his magic again.
Washington (13-14) also has exceeded expectations under first-year coach Sydney Johnson. Even after a 68-67 home loss Thursday night against the expansion Golden State Valkyries, the Mystics are in playoff contention with a young roster.
Rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have performed beyond expectations. They combined for 50 points in Tuesday’s 103-86 victory over the Chicago Sky and average 14.3 and 11.9 points, respectively.
“To come to this league and really want to be great and open to coaching through the highs and lows, through the pressure defense and officiating and the different scheme … I don’t know what to tell you,” Johnson said. “But the future’s really great with the pair. It’s just as clear as day.”
Atlanta has a 2-1 lead in the season series, edging Washington 92-91 on June 20 in the only prior matchup on the Dream’s home floor.
–Field Level Media
