The Atlanta Dream secured an 85-75 victory over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night, marking their sixth consecutive win in Seattle. Rhyne Howard led the charge with 25 points, while Allisha Gray contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds, recording her second double-double of the season. Howard nailed three three-pointers in the last 30 seconds of the third quarter, pushing Atlanta to a 68-54 lead. She also banked a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining and quickly stole an inbound pass, converting it into another three-pointer from the same spot.
Seattle narrowed the gap to 77-69 in the fourth quarter, but Gray responded with baskets, and Howard sealed the game with two free throws, extending the lead to 12 points with 2:37 left. With a 21-11 record and 12 games remaining, Atlanta overtook New York (21-12) in the WNBA standings. The Dream will face the Vancouver Storm in British Columbia on Friday.
Britney Griner scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Maya Caldwell added 10 points during the first half. Nneka Ogwumike led Seattle with 29 points and nine rebounds, and Gabby Williams contributed 11 points. Ogwumike was perfect from the field, going 7-for-7 with 16 points in the first half, and other teammates combined for 23 points. Seattle ended the first half on a 12-5 run, closing the gap to 41-39.
Fan Take: This win underscores Atlanta’s rising dominance this season, shaking up the WNBA standings and intensifying playoff races. For fans, it signals an exciting, competitive climax to the season that could elevate the league’s visibility and popularity even further.
