The Atlanta Dream are chasing their first WNBA Championship, making it to the finals for the first time since 2013, but they are already down 1-0 after dropping Game 1 to the Valkyries. This team has been on an absolute tear all season, playing for that league trophy, and now the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Dream Machine: How Atlanta Got Here
Talk about a squad that has built something special! This is their fourth straight season in the playoffs, but getting back to the finals after so long? That is huge. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray have been absolute playmakers, driving this offense all year. But honestly, the real game changers came with the new blood. First, they added Angel Reese, who completely transformed Atlanta into a true contender. Then, get this, DeWanna Bonner signed on, and the source literally says Atlanta is “virtually unstoppable” now. You have to believe it, right?
They absolutely steamrolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs. They handled the Mystics in a 2-0 sweep, with scores of 92-77 and 93-75. That was just a warm-up, though. They then took down the Liberty in a dominant 3-0 sweep in the semifinals, winning 92-82, then pulling out a crazy 101-98 overtime victory, and finally closing it out 85-83. This team was flying high!
Finals Face-Off: Valkyries Take the Early Lead
But now, things just got real. The Valkyries put the clamps on them in Game 1, taking a 68-64 win. That is a tough start for a team with championship dreams. The series is winner-take-all, and every single game matters. If you want to see the action live, tickets for Dream playoff games are available on StubHub. Game 3 at State Farm Arena currently has a get-in cost of $230.
Here is how the rest of the finals schedule looks:
* Saturday, Oct. 17: Valkyries 68, Dream 64 (Valkyries lead 1-0)
* Monday, Oct. 19: Game 2 at Golden State, 8 p.m. ET
* Wednesday, Oct. 21: Game 3 at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET
* Saturday, Oct. 24: Game 4 at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET
* Monday, Oct. 26: Game 5 at Golden State* 8 p.m. ET
* Thursday, Oct. 29: Game 6 at Atlanta* 8 p.m. ET
* Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7 at Golden State* 8 p.m. ET
*If necessary
Game 2 against the Valkyries is Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET from Golden State. The Dream needs to turn this around fast, or that first WNBA ring might slip away. They will be back home for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta. Let’s go, Dream!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply