The Atlanta Dream took down the Seattle Storm 79-68, clinching their first playoff appearance since 2018.
In a win-and-get-in scenario, the playoffs are on the line. This is the most pressure the Dream have felt all season, but they are only focused on what’s in front of them. “We have to focus on Seattle,” said head coach Tanisha Wright. “They are playing really hard night now…we have to play our brand of basketball and (show) who we are and what we do.” The recurring question around the team has been: Why can’t they finish? The answer is they’re incredibly young, and as Wright said less than two weeks ago, the team has to “grow up.” Tonight, they grew tremendously.
When the Dream last saw the Storm in August, they lost a stunner to the efforts of veteran Jewell Loyd. Loyd scored nine of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, capping a 16-0 run. Allisha Gray took that personally and challenged herself to show up defensively. Her high energy and disruption started in the first quarter. Gray scores the team’s first bucket, only to have Loyd answer with a three-point shot, showing she didn’t care what Gray and the Dream planned to do. Loyd’s energy ignites Sami Whitcomb, who shoots her way to a perfect three of three from deep. Whitcomb’s quick release is too much for the Dream, and they struggle to keep up with nearly every shot from Seattle. Despite solid looks from Gray, the Dream are already behind 24-19 at the end of the first.
Cheyenne Parker comes to the rescue in the paint with a pull-up jump shot to open the second. Monique Billings, the only remaining member from the 2018 playoff team, forces a turnover that leads to a Danielle Robinson jumper. Finally, the Dream are doing what they do best: turn disruption into production. The Storm, however, match their energy, and midway through the second, the score is tied 29-29. The teams trade buckets until under two minutes to play in the half when Iliana Rupert hits a massive shot from downtown that helps the team on their way to an 8-2 run, a 47-40 halftime lead behind points from Gray, Parker, and Billings, and 60% shooting.
The third quarter could be better for the Dream. This quarter starts like many of the team’s third quarters this season: rough. Loyd hits a killer turnaround jump shot over Gray, forcing the team to feel like they have to answer quickly on the other end. Unfortunately, they missed their first three shots of the quarter and typically hit a lull at this point, but they remained active on defense. Their tight coverage forces Seattle into challenging situations and opens a lane for Gray to drive downhill and score, stopping the scoreless period. Billings picks up on what Gray is doing and forces a turnover that leads to a shot from Parker under the basket and a timeout at 6:40. The lead quickly balloons to nine. The Dream are shrinking into the ball and forcing more bad shots and ball handling from the Storm. Loyd is still attacking, trying to answer, but Aari McDonald hits a shot from beyond the arc that would have been good from Peachtree Street. The Dream didn’t have the best quarter, only scoring 18 points, but they didn’t let Seattle have a great one either, a welcomed change from the season. Parker has 17 points, Gray has 16 points, and Billings is working on a double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds. They take a 65-52 lead into the most critical quarter of the season.
The fourth quarter also starts on shaky ground, but Billings steps up and delivers multiple jump shots, securing her double-double and 1,000 career rebounds, which keeps Atlanta out in front. Loyd, however, will not be denied and is up to a game-high 26 points, leaning her body into players to pick up fouls. Her surge forces a timeout with 3:20 left. Coach Wright calms her team down, and Billings, once again, answers the call. She makes a heads-up play to save a possession and hits Rhyne Howard for a humongous momentum-shifting three-point shot. The Storm take a timeout to regroup, but that is the dagger that eventually secures the team its win and a chance at the playoffs. Seattle scores five quick points to play spoiler, but Atlanta is living the dream. (Pun intended) Atlanta wins 79-68 thanks to help from Gray and Parker, but this game does not end the way it does without Billings. Billings ends with 15 points, 14 rebounds (her 11th career double-double), and four assists.
“It feels good seeing the work pay off,” Billings proudly explained after the game. “We still have a long way to go, but when it’s hard in training camp, and we just have to find a way mid-season when we’re going through lulls…things like that…it just feels good right now knowing it’s all going to be worth it.” Parker donned a bright smile when speaking about Billings and couldn’t help but imply the team calls her “Mo’ Money” for a reason.
The Dream turn their sights to the Washington Mystics. They travel to Washington, D.C., on Friday for a 7:00 PM game at Entertainment & Sports Arena.
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