NFL
By: Nick Andre
We’re a quarter into the WNBA season, which means it’s time for an observation. Through the first month of the season, the league has been cinematic with great individual performances and team standouts. Speaking of team standouts, many can say that the Atlanta Dream have over exceeded expectations. As a team with a new head coach and various new roster additions, the Dream have elevated themselves as one of the top contenders in the WNBA.
Starting the season at 10-5 is a reason for the Dream players to flex their muscles. It’s a step in the right direction as far as team development. First-year head coach Karl Smesko has brought a new energy to this team. As talented offensively as the Dream are as a team, it was only right that they replaced Tanisha Wright with an offensive-oriented head coach.
Through 14 games of the season, the Dream are currently second in points per game and sixth in field goal percentage. When you watch them on the court, it’s evident that they’re one of the best offensive teams in the WNBA. The ball swings around the court and always finds its way to the best shooter. The Dream’s fast-paced offense makes it difficult for an opposing team’s defense. When shooters are scoring at a high level, it’s hard to keep up with them.
It’s easy to begin talking about the stars and their dominance to begin the season. However, star players need quality pieces around them to succeed. Atlanta dominated the offseason with key acquisitions like Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, and others. Each of these players brings veteran experience as they’ve either won a championship as well as made deep playoff runs. The Dream also continue to have gratitude for their long-term role players. Naz Hillmon, Nia Coffey, Jordin Canada, and others continue to provide energy on both ends as their versatility has been on full display.
Of all the role players, the most impactful one has been rookie Te-Hina Paopao from South Carolina. I’m sure nobody expected this rookie guard to come in and make an immediate impact. The transition from college to the WNBA is hard. However, Paopao has made it seem effortless. She’s done a great job of allowing the game to come to her. When she has the opportunity to shoot, she’s done that at a high level. Paopao has also demonstrated her playmaking skills by passing in the pick-and-roll as well as finding open shooters. Te-Hina Paopao deserves to be in the Rookie of the Year race. Her averages of seven points per game on 57 percent shooting have been crucial in Atlanta’s start to the season.
With the role players stepping up, they must be led. That’s where All-Stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray come into effect. Howard and Gray clicked the moment they became teammates. Their chemistry on and off the court is like none other, and their energy can become contagious over the years. As Howard and Gray’s chemistry continued to grow, they knew that it had to translate into team success as well.
Through a quarter of a season, the WNBA world has seen Allisha Gray take a huge leap. This is a player who has entered her name into MVP conversations. The reason being is her improvements on both sides of the ball. Gray has not only shot the ball at a high level but also elevated her defense and grown as a playmaker. She has continued to do a great job of carrying the Dream on her back. She has set the tone on both ends of the floor, and she continues to compete at a high level. Gray is averaging a career-high 20.1 points along with 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Her growth has continued to be impressive, and she isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
As for Rhyne Howard, it’s an everyday process. She’s still one of the more dangerous scorers in the WNBA. However, Howard’s also shown growth as a defender with her pressure off-ball and ability to get into passing lanes. Howard has the tools to continue to grow as the franchise player for the Dream. With her heart-warming personality, she’s continued to be a fan favorite in Atlanta. As she’s averaging 17.3 points along with 5.1 rebounds and five assists, Howard has also taken a leap as the franchise player.
With their great start to the season, fans are thinking big about the Atlanta Dream. The term “championship” has made its way to Georgia as it’s become the new standard within the team. While the Dream have gotten off to a hot start, there are still areas that they have to work on to persuade the world that they’re true contenders.
Consistency is key for the Dream. They have to sustain a high level of play throughout the season to succeed. While fans have seen the Dream at their highest, they’ve also seen them at their worst. For instance, look at Tuesday night’s loss against the Dallas Wings. Atlanta laid an egg as they scored a season-low 55 points in the loss while shooting a horrific 23 percent from the floor.
Bad losses happen during the season. There are games that teams want to put behind them and never think about again. However, the loss against Dallas should be a learning experience for the Dream. Their struggles offensively translated to the defensive end as they failed to slow down the offensive firepower of Dallas. Luckily, adjustments will be made moving forward. Coach Smesko will have the Dream fully prepared to bounce back against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night.
The Dream have a bright future ahead. They have the right pieces to compete, and they’ve shown signs of dominance early in the 2025 WNBA season. As the season progresses, we’ll have to do another check-in on the Dream and watch how they’ve improved from their first 15 games.
