By Tiffany Williams –
On Thursday night, the Atlanta Dream faced off against the visiting Indiana Fever at State Farm Arena, ultimately falling short with a score of 81-76. This loss brought the Dream’s season record to 1-2, while they now sit at 1-1 in their matchups against the Fever. Just days prior, on Tuesday night, Atlanta had edged out Indiana with a thrilling 91-90 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Dream transitioned their game to the expansive State Farm Arena, which typically serves as the home for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. In a significant shift for the team, they announced shortly before tipoff that the venue, with a capacity of 16,888, was sold out. This marks a notable change from their usual home at Gateway Center Arena, which accommodates just 3,500 fans.
In tonight’s contest, Rhyne Howard emerged as Atlanta’s leading scorer, notching an impressive 24 points over 37 minutes of play. Howard shot eight of 17 from the field, hitting three of her seven attempts from beyond the arc and converting five of six free-throw attempts. In addition to her scoring, she contributed five defensive rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block to the team’s efforts.
Brionna Jones also made a significant contribution, scoring 15 points during her 33 minutes on the court. Jones had a shooting stat line of four for 13 from the field, making two of four from long range, and converting five of seven free throws. Her contributions on the boards were notable as well, with three offensive rebounds and eight defensive rebounds alongside three assists and one steal.
In a collaborative effort, Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao combined for 22 points for Atlanta. Gray’s performance included four for 13 shooting from the field, with a tough night beyond the arc at zero for five, while also making three of four free throws. She added one offensive rebound, four defensive rebounds, two assists, and one steal to her totals. Paopao, contributing significantly, was three for nine from the field, netting three of six from three-point range, and was a perfect two for two from the free-throw line. She also tallied two defensive rebounds and two assists.
Brittney Griner had a quieter night, playing only 25 minutes and scoring five points. Despite her lower offensive output, she managed to secure one offensive rebound, six defensive rebounds, and contributed one block to the defensive efforts of the team.
Throughout the game, Atlanta managed to score ten points off their bench, achieved 11 fast break points, two points from second chances, 20 points in the paint, and six points off turnovers. Their overall shooting stats included an impressive 18 for 23 from the free-throw line, along with making ten of 29 three-point attempts and 14 of 38 from two-point range. Ultimately, Atlanta completed 24 of 67 field goals attempted.
On the opposing side, the Indiana Fever saw Natasha Howard shine with a game-high 26 points, complemented by two offensive rebounds, five defensive rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Kelsey Mitchell contributed 17 points, alongside one offensive rebound, two defensive rebounds, one assist, and one block. The trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and DeWanna Bonner combined for an additional 16 points, showcasing the Fever’s balanced scoring.
Indiana’s performance featured strong contributions off the bench, totaling 22 points, and they dominated in the paint with 46 points. The Fever also secured 15 second-chance points, nine fast break points, and 11 points off turnovers. Their shooting numbers reflected a solid performance, with seven of 23 from three-point land, 26 of 51 on two-point field goals, and 33 of 74 overall. They made eight of their 15 free-throw attempts.
Notably, Caitlin Clark had a challenging night as she missed all five of her three-point attempts, ending a remarkable streak of 140 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. This streak encompassed regular season games in the WNBA as well as playoffs and a significant portion of her college career at Iowa. The last time she failed to net a three-pointer was on January 13, 2022, during her sophomore season against Purdue, where she went 0 for 6 from beyond the arc.
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