Dream Sweep Mystics, Reach WNBA Semifinals for First Time Since 2018

The Atlanta Dream are finally out of the first round. Atlanta defeated Washington 93-75 Wednesday night, completing a 2-0 sweep and advancing to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018. Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 22 points, while Jordin Canada delivered a brilliant all-around performance with 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Washington made the game interesting after falling behind by 13 in the first half, eventually cutting Atlanta’s lead to 65-62. That’s when the Dream slammed the door. Atlanta answered with a 13-0 run, and Canada took over the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of her 19 points. Rhyne Howard added 15 before fouling out, while Angel Reese scored 15. Atlanta committed only eight turnovers compared with Washington’s 19 and turned those mistakes into 23 points.

The sweep is an important breakthrough for a franchise that had been eliminated in the first round in each of the previous three seasons. Now comes a fascinating matchup. Atlanta will host Game 1 Sunday against the No. 8 New York Liberty, who just pulled off the first 8-over-1 playoff upset in WNBA history. New York is suddenly the postseason’s giant-killer. Atlanta is one of its hottest teams. Something has to give.