By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – September 18, 2024

The Atlanta Dream kept their playoff aspirations alive with an 86-70 victory over the Chicago Sky on Wednesday night. Both teams entered the game with identical 13-25 records, but Atlanta’s victory gave them the upper hand, improving their record to 14-25 while Chicago dropped to 13-26.

Chicago opened the game by winning the tip-off, but Atlanta’s defense set the tone early, with Allisha Gray blocking Rachel Banham’s first shot. That defensive intensity persisted throughout the contest, allowing the Dream to control the game from start to finish.

On Atlanta’s first possession, Jordan Canada wasted no time attacking the paint, scoring a layup and drawing a foul for the and-one. That aggressive play helped Atlanta close the first quarter with a 22-14 lead, fueled by a 16-6 run. Chicago struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3% from the field in the opening quarter.

Haley Jones added a crucial basket late in the first quarter, helping extend Atlanta’s lead to 12 points in the second quarter. Nia Coffey made an immediate impact off the bench, contributing four points in just three minutes. Atlanta’s reserves outperformed Chicago’s, with a 16-3 edge in bench points by halftime.

Gray and Canada led the Dream with eight points each in the first half, while Tina Charles dominated the boards, pulling down eight rebounds. All 10 active Dream players saw minutes in the first half, with the team’s largest lead growing to 18 points before the break. Atlanta out-rebounded Chicago 22-14 and outscored them in the paint 28-16, showcasing dominance inside.

In the fourth quarter, Atlanta shot a blistering 50% from the field, 75% from beyond the arc, and 90% from the free-throw line. They capped off the game with a 19-11 run to seal the 16-point win.

Four Dream players scored in double figures, with Jordan Canada leading the way with 18 points, five assists, three steals, two rebounds, and a block. However, the game was not without setbacks—Haley Jones exited in the second quarter with a right calf injury and did not return.

Tina Charles made history in the win, recording her 20th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, tying Sylvia Fowles for the most career double-doubles in WNBA history with 193.

With the victory, Atlanta stays in the hunt for a playoff spot and continues to fight for their postseason dreams.