ATLANTA — With the WNBA playoffs just weeks away, there is no room for error, and for the Atlanta Dream, they’re in a four-way chess match with three other teams for position behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
“I honestly feel like the playoffs started a couple of games ago,” Dream forward Nia Coffey said pregame.
“Every detail matters. We can’t overlook anything — overlook a practice, a game, a shootaround. We just have to make sure we’re locked in consistently so that we’re not playing pickup during the playoffs.”
Head coach Karl Smesko echoed Coffey’s sentiment and stressed that while Atlanta has a really good opportunity over the next several games to further cement its status as a top team in the league. However, Smesko admitted, amid a rash of league-wide injuries, that he wants every team to be healthy.
“We prefer we go against teams at their best,” Smesko said. “We want all their best players playing. We want to see where we stack up against their best players.”
On Saturday, the Liberty did not have multiple of their best players, including guard Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu missed the roadtrip after suffering a foot injury against Chicago Sky and her teammates have been out for quite a while as they work their way back.
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Still, the gameplan didn’t change for Atlanta. They had to light it up early — and they did, right into halftime. The Dream comfortably led 49-28 on 47 percent shooting from the field and had seven 3-pointers.
Atlanta continued to hit the perimeter with shots and broke down New York’s defense, creating a sizable lead (as high as 26) that saw eight players score at least one basket. Even when the lead dwindled down to 14 in the fourth, Smesko’s team didn’t flinch.
Forward Naz Hillmon grabbed an energy-shifting rebound in the fourth quarter that led to a huge and-1 opportunity for guard Allisha Gray. The Dream eventually knocked down more shots to create some separation and went on to win 78-62, earning a franchise record 24th regular season win with four players in double figures.
Gray, who has been in the WNBA MVP conversations all season, talked postgame about what it feels like to see this kind of success in her career.
“It’s nice to have a career season, but it’s even better when you’re a winner,” she said, smiling. “I think I’m more happy about finally being a winner in my career than having [a] season high in my average because I ain’t never been this high in the standings before.”
Gray’s excitement and enthusiasm behind just how well Atlanta has been playing was palpable, but it was Hillmon’s words when advocating for Smesko to be Coach of the Year that really spoke to the mindset the team has right now.
“I don’t think I’ve heard enough noise about that, honestly,” the Sixth Player of the Year candidate said.
“You go into the season, and we were ranked by some people as No. 7, and we’re ranked No. 2 right now. Season’s not over. We’ve got a bunch of games, but I think that speaks to what he’s done to make this team what it is.”
When asked about Hillmon’s endorsement Smesko said he thinks that Coach of the Year is whoever wins a WNBA championship. Smesko’s point is a valid one and probably gives a peek into his mindset. Still, the chatter is going to get louder and louder the better Atlanta does, especially during this chess match playoff push.
With seven games remaining, the pressure is increasing and the stakes are even higher. Game on.
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