NFL
By: Nick Andre
After being swept in the playoffs for a second straight year, the Atlanta Dream season has come to an end. While they were in a battle with the New York Liberty, the team wasn’t able to prevail as they lost two pivotal road games. As the season has come to an end, all the Dream can do is reflect on the type of season that they had.
Let’s date back to last season. The Dream shocked the world as they advanced to the Playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Although they were eliminated by the Dallas Wings, there was optimism surrounding the team. They were young, hungry, and in search of more success moving forward.
Players around hr WNBA sensed the hunger that the Dream had as a unit. They quickly became a favorite destination for several free agents. The Dream had a great off-season as they signed both Tina Charles and Aerial Powers as free agents while also acquiring Jordin Canada via trade from the Los Angeles Sparks.
The new look Dream had many fans excited. Even I predicted they could become a top-five team in the WNBA. They had a roster that could compete with top contenders most nights.
Despite being a talented team, one of the biggest issues for the Dream was keeping bodies on the floor. Canada wasn’t available at the beginning of the season with a hand injury, while several other players went down throughout the season. With the high expectations that the Dream had, they were 7-17 through 24 games. At one point, they were out of the Playoff race with doubts about landing a top-eight seed.
The Atlanta Dream didn’t go into the Olympic Break on a good note. They were one of the worst defensive teams in the league and were on an eight-game losing streak. Despite the struggles, there was still a chance to grab a playoff spot. The players and the coaching staff came too far in this journey to go backward. With that being said, the Dream returned from the Olympic break with a chip on their shoulder.
It was a grind to clinch the eighth seed. But the Dream showed resilience once the regular season restarted. They came out of the gates winning three in a row and continued to give contending teams their best effort. As the season went down to the wire, Atlanta put pressure on teams like the Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics, and a few others for the last playoff spot. Luckily, with three straight wins to close the season, they were able to extend their season by clinching the eighth seed.
Would Dream fans consider this an improved season compared to last year? Probably not. They finished the regular season with a 15-25 record and ranked last in offense. They had the talent to contend as a top team in the WNBA, but adversity got in the way. On the positive side, the Dream embraced the adversity that they faced. They held each other accountable for their mistakes during the season and found a way to improve. Even when games weren’t the prettiest, they found a way to grind out games and come out with wins.
The Dream’s front office will have their hands full during the off-season. Can they find a way to re-sign Tina Charles and convince her not to retire? Do they let players Cheyenne Parker-Tyus or Aerial Powers walk? The goal for the front office is to continue to put this team in a position to become contenders. The 2024 season was an up-and-down journey for the Dream. Luckily, they have time to prepare for a better 2025 campaign.
