The Atlanta Dream stared down an 11-point hole in Game 1 of their first-round WNBA playoff series against the Washington Mystics, but then DeWanna Bonner ignited a fire that the Mystics just couldn’t put out. Atlanta roared back, turning that double-digit deficit into a dominant 92-77 victory. Talk about a playoff statement!
Veteran Fire Ignites Playoff Comeback
Talk about a gut check! The No. 4-seed Dream kicked off their playoff run looking, well, not like the confident squad that finished the regular season. The No. 5-seed Mystics, despite their inexperience, were executing like seasoned pros, leaving Atlanta trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half. It was a tough watch, seriously. But you know how it goes in the playoffs, something always shifts. And for Atlanta, that shift came at halftime. When the third quarter buzzer sounded, it was clear that DeWanna Bonner, the veteran signing brought in specifically for this kind of postseason intensity, had flipped the script. She dropped an insane 11 of her 13 points in that single quarter, giving the Dream the exact punch they needed to come alive.
Bonner, a two-time champion playing in her 99th career playoff game, brought more than just points. Dream head coach Karl Smesko hit it right on the head, saying she “made so many big plays for us.” He added that her “enthusiasm she played with… it’s not just the playoff experience, it’s the joy of playing basketball. And that was contagious for everyone. It just made a huge difference in the outcome of the game.” That joy? You could feel it. Bonner herself summed it up perfectly after the game: “One thing you can’t do in the playoffs is be uptight. You’ve still got to play fun basketball. You’ve still got to laugh and enjoy this moment. I think the second half settled us down, and we had fun.” That’s wisdom right there, straight from a legend.
Big 3 Delivers, Defense Sets Records
With Bonner lighting the fuse, Atlanta’s “Big 3” absolutely went off, propelling the Dream to that monster 92-77 victory. Rhyne Howard exploded for 26 points, while Allisha Gray was right there with 22 points of her own. And Angel Reese? She brought the thunder and the boards, posting a strong 13-point and 12-rebound double-double. That’s how you close out a game, folks, with everyone stepping up big time.
But it wasn’t just offense that clinched it. Rhyne Howard wasn’t just scoring, she was a menace on defense, snagging five steals. That aggressive play was infectious, leading the Dream to a franchise-record 16 takeaways in the game! Sixteen takeaways! That’s not just a good night, that’s a statement. As Howard herself hilariously put it about Bonner’s leadership and presence, “She’s the banana, the ice cream, she’s the whipped cream, the cherry…she’s all of that…adding her is just something that they can’t stop” 🤣🫶. When your teammates are talking like that, you know you’ve got something special brewing.
Game 1 is in the books, and the Dream have sent a loud message to the rest of the league. Picking up a win after staring down an 11-point deficit in a playoff opener? That builds serious confidence. They’re up 1-0 in this first-round series, and the Mystics are going to have to figure out how to handle Bonner’s veteran fire and that “Big 3” attack, especially with Atlanta’s defense turning up the heat. What’s next? More playoff basketball, that’s what. Can Atlanta keep that contagious joy and fun basketball going?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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