NFL
By: Nick Andre
The second half of the WNBA season has started on the right note for the Atlanta Dream. With the struggles and adjustments the team made in the first half, it was great for the team to hit the reset button. The Dream are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive and they’ve shown that with two big wins on their home floor during the weekend.
The biggest story for the Dream in the second half of the season is health. As I mentioned before, the loss of Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada were significant for the team. These are two premier guards who can create for both themselves and others on the offensive end. Although the Dream are still without Aerial Powers due to a left calf injury, the team is still one step closer to being fully healthy.
The first test for the Dream was against the Seattle Storm on Friday night. It was their first game in nearly a month, which means the team would be fully engaged or rusty to start. It’s safe to say that the team was still trying to create a feel for one another as the Storm got out to a double-digit lead in the first half. Luckily, the team was able to adjust in the second half and find themselves back into the game.
Rhyne Howard led the charge for the second-half comeback. Once she saw the ball go through the basket, she became unconscious from three-point range. Howard scored 14 points in the third quarter and sparked a fire in the rest of her team. The Dream outscored the Storm 26-19 in the third quarter and slowly cut into the lead.
Aside from Howard, defense was the biggest reason behind the Dream’s comeback. During the first half, the Storm thrived at taking high-percentage shots around the basket. Luckily, head coach Tanisha Wright made adjustments and inserted a lineup that could create stops defensively. Also, other players like Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, and others stepped up offensively which allowed the Dream to have the lead down the stretch. In the end, it was Tina Charles’ game-winner that helped the Dream prevail in an 83-81 victory.
It was a big win for the Atlanta Dream. But the question was where could they go from here? They clinched their eighth win of the season but were still on the outside of the playoff standings. The journey to clinching a playoff spot was not going to get easier. However, the best option for the team was to continue to prepare for every matchup that was placed in front of them.
The next matchup was the Connecticut Sun. This was a team that dominated the team in two of the previous three meetings. To close the series, the Dream wanted to keep climbing the standings. The Sun are known as one of the top contenders in the WNBA and a win could become a confidence booster for the Dream.
It’s not easy defending talented players like DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Marina Mabrey, and others. The Sun are an excellent team in their half-court offense. They share the ball well and they are also dangerous scoring in transition. It’s a reason why the team shot a high percentage in the previous matchups against the Dream this season.
The best way the Dream could come out on top was by continuing to play together. Everyone had to excel in their role and place themselves in the best position for success. The Dream did a great job in the first half of establishing ball movement and allowing role players to be involved offensively. For the most part, they had control of the game and were on their way to another victory.
The big test took place in the second half. As great of a team as Connecticut was, they weren’t going to go away. They didn’t shoot the ball well but hung their hat on defense to keep the game close. Despite the Sun taking the lead in the fourth quarter, the Dream found a way to finish the contest strong. They finished the game on a 19-2 run which allowed them to take an 82-70 victory on their home floor. Once again, it wasn’t the prettiest performance but Atlanta came together to come out on top.
It was a big weekend for the Atlanta Dream both as a team and individually. Not only did Tina Charles steal the show with her game-winner over Seattle, but Rhyne Howard scored 30 points in the contest and showed why she’s one of the best scorers in the WNBA. Against Seattle, Charles dominated once again with 22 points and 15 rebounds while Jordin Canada contributed 19 points and six steals.
A healthy Atlanta Dream team is showing that they can be one of the top contenders in the WNBA. Coming into the season, they were expected to capitalize off of their success from a season ago. However, it’s hard to do that when your top players aren’t available. The restart of the WNBA season has brought new life to the Dream. They’re well-rested and prepared for a playoff spot. The journey continues later this week as they have two home games against the Phoenix Mercury.
