Key Takeaways
- Atlanta Dream End Their Playoff Drought
- Jordin Canada Delivers When It Matters Most
- The Atlanta Dream vs Washington Mystics series ended in a 2-0 sweep for Atlanta.
The Atlanta Dream vs Washington Mystics playoff series ended with Atlanta winning 93-75 on September 30, completing a 2-0 first-round sweep and advancing to the WNBA semifinals.. The victory marked Atlanta’s first trip to the semifinals since 2018 and ended Washington’s postseason run after a record-setting regular season.
Atlanta controlled the opening minutes and built a 24-17 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Dream continued to apply pressure in the second period, stretching their advantage to 13 points before Washington responded with a late scoring burst. The Mystics reduced the deficit before halftime, but Atlanta still entered the break with a 41-35 lead.
The result continued Atlanta’s strong form in the series. The Dream had won Game 1, 92-77, after recovering from a five-point halftime deficit. That comeback gave Atlanta an early advantage in the series and put Washington under pressure heading into the second game.
Atlanta also benefited from a balanced offensive effort. The Dream consistently found scoring opportunities from the perimeter and inside, preventing Washington from putting together a sustained defensive response.
Atlanta dream vs Washington mystics: third-quarter rally
Washington returned from halftime with renewed energy and briefly changed the momentum of the game. The Mystics produced a 14-2 run during the third quarter, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 65-62 and bringing the game within one possession.
Atlanta responded immediately. The Dream put together a 13-0 scoring run to regain control and extend their advantage to 78-62. The response proved decisive as Washington was unable to produce another sustained comeback.
Jordin Canada played a major role in Atlanta’s fourth-quarter surge. She finished with 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, with 13 of her points coming in the final period. Canada connected on consecutive three-pointers late in the fourth quarter before adding a jumper that gave Atlanta an 89-70 advantage with 2:58 remaining.
Allisha Gray led the Dream with 22 points. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese each scored 15 points, while Naz Hillmon added 10. The scoring contributions across the lineup allowed Atlanta to maintain its advantage even after Washington’s third-quarter rally.
The Mystics were led by Sonia Citron, who scored 25 points. Kiki Iriafen added 15 points and 16 rebounds, giving Washington a strong presence on the boards. Despite those individual performances, the Mystics struggled to turn their opportunities into enough points to keep pace with Atlanta.
Atlanta moves into semifinals
The defeat ended a notable season for Washington. The Mystics returned to the playoffs for the first time since winning the WNBA championship in 2019 and entered the postseason after recording a franchise-best 28 regular-season victories.
Washington’s rebounding performance remained one of its strengths, but turnovers proved costly. The Mystics committed 19 turnovers compared with eight by Atlanta, creating additional possessions for the Dream. Atlanta also had a significant advantage from three-point range, making 13 three-pointers compared with seven by Washington.
For Atlanta, the series victory represented an important postseason breakthrough. The Dream had been eliminated in the first round in each of their previous three playoff appearances. This time, they closed out the series in two games and avoided another early postseason exit.
Atlanta will now face the New York Liberty in the semifinals. New York also completed a first-round sweep, eliminating the Minnesota Lynx to advance.
The Dream are scheduled to host Game 1 of the semifinal series on October 4. After overcoming Washington’s late-season challenge and closing the first round without a loss, Atlanta will enter the next stage of the playoffs with its postseason run still alive.
Following their victory in the Atlanta Dream vs Washington Mystics series, Atlanta will face the New York Liberty in the WNBA semifinals, beginning October 4.
