3 Reasons The Atlanta Dream Will Be A Nightmare In The Playoffs And Can Win The Championship
LAS VEGAS — Atlanta might be the WNBA’s least-discussed legitimate championship threat, but make no mistake, the Dream will be a postseason nightmare.
Just ask the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Led by Angel Reese‘s 23rd double-double of the season, the Dream (22-13) went into Las Vegas and defeated the Aces, 97-82, on Tuesday.
Reese scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Rhyne Howard led the team with 23 points. Allisha Gray added 21 points, while Jordin Canada chipped in with 17 points and five assists.
Ms. Double-Double
With 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, Angel Reese is your Albert Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/Xg5uPOMBPx
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 19, 2026
Atlanta’s win, coupled with New York’s loss to Chicago, allowed the Dream to leapfrog the Liberty for sole possession of fifth place in the standings. They’re now one game back of fourth place behind the Aces (24-13).
“They have three-level scorers,” Las Vegas’ four-time MVP A’ja Wilson said. “Obviously, they have big guards, and then you have posts that can really move and spread the floor. I mean, they were shooting 50% from the three and from the floor at half. When you’re able to create those good looks and get great looks for each other, whether it’s just screen, whether it’s just duck-ins or playing in the paint, and then kicking out for three, that makes it hard. It makes it hard to stop because you got to pick your poison in a sense.
“So I think that’s what makes them a great team for them to kind of contend for a championship.”
LACK OF ATTENTION
The Dream’s relative lack of attention is not basketball-related, but more so a star-power and media-storyline issue.
Instead, the league-wide narratives often revolve around Las Vegas and its championship pedigree. There’s Indiana with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell on the court, while pundits love to clamor about Sophie Cunningham off of it.
Minnesota has been setting the league’s standard with rookie Olivia Miles stealing the spotlight this season, while New York will always be a marquee franchise as long as Breanna Stewart is playing.
Bottom line: Atlanta doesn’t generate the same daily national conversation.
Regardless, postseason basketball doesn’t care about conversation.
“We don’t really care about what other people say or where their projections are, who their big three is,” Canada said. “We’re just focused on us and trying to make sure we do what we need to do to, one, get into the playoffs, and (two), just try to play the best brand of basketball that we can.
“People are going to have their opinions, people are going to say a lot of things, but we don’t pay attention to that.”
Atlanta has scoring, multiple creators, size, rebounding, defensive versatility and enough depth to survive a postseason grind. And we’re not talking about a team simply capable of turning in an upset in the playoffs; this squad is constructed well enough to beat several different styles of opponents.
They may not be the favorite to win the WNBA championship, but here are three reasons why they can:
94-FOOT GAME
It’s their balance that makes the Dream dangerous, as they average 90.3 points per game, fourth-best in the WNBA, while allowing only 85.7, also fourth-best. The ability to win at both ends of the court – as they did Tuesday – becomes critical in a playoff series, where one-dimensional teams are easier to scheme against.
And this is a team that boasts a collection of two-way talent, led by its Big Three: Gray, Howard and Reese, all 2026 All-Star reserves. Gray gives Atlanta a primary scorer and game-closer; Howard supplies another high-level perimeter creator; and Reese changes games through rebounding, physicality and defense. When she’s healthy, Brionna Jones supplies interior scoring and physicality, while Canada and Naz Hillmon give coach Karl Smesko additional lineup flexibility.
Atlanta’s defensive rating has been 15.0 points better with Reese on the floor, according to HoopsJunkie.com. That makes the Dream unusually difficult to attack. They can defend the perimeter, switch actions, rebound missed shots and then punish opponents before their defense gets organized.
Tuesday, they forced the Aces to commit a season-high tying 17 turnovers – five by Wilson.
“We have everything we need; we have all the pieces,” Canada said. “I think when we just put it together and play a complete 40 minutes, and we’re playing the way we’re supposed to be playing – I think we’re the best team in the league, hands down.”
GRAY MATTER
Nike was on to something when they released a special-edition shoe called “Slept On” on Aug. 15 for Gray.
At 31, the four-time All-Star is having arguably the quietest superstar season in the league. The Dream guard went into Tuesday’s game averaging a career-high 19.7 points, along with 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals.
And right now, she loves flying under the radar.
“I’m just out there playing my game,” Gray said. “I mean, I’m continuing to do the same thing that I’m doing. Not having the noise around me doesn’t bother me. I mean, it’s actually chill, keeps the attention off me, and it’s just … go out there and play free. I’m having a great season so far, and I’m having fun.”
Another day, another Allisha Gray bucket pic.twitter.com/KIUHpFmExC
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 19, 2026
Gray doesn’t produce her numbers in the high-usage, ball-dominant manner associated with some of the league’s biggest stars. Instead, her biggest flex is she can score within the flow, defend, play off the ball and rarely needs the offense to stop so she can manufacture numbers. It’s what makes her so valuable, and part of what makes her easy to overlook.
But with nearly 20 points per game, her two-way value and legitimate late-game shot-making are a big reason the Dream can make a deep run. The leadership and camaraderie she provides is even bigger.
“She shows up for us every single night,” Reese said. “The consistency that she continues to give, the sisterhood that she pulls for me, always being there for me, having my back through everything. When I missed that shot in the Fever game, her and Rhy were the first two right there because they know in practice every day those are the things I work on. Those are things that I finish, and they know how hard I am on myself.
“So being able to have sisters in the locker room and people around you that just pour into you so much. I mean, obviously she’s a great player, but even a better person.”
OH, CANADA
Just as underrated as the Dream have been, Canada has dealt with that most of her career. Yet you won’t find many athletes who work as hard as the 31-year-old Los Angeles native.
This is someone who entered the league in 2018 and quickly learned how to contribute alongside established stars rather than needing an offense built around her. She became a two-time WNBA champion with the Storm, playing behind Sue Bird, while developing her identity through point-of-attack defense, pace, ball pressure and playmaking.
As the floor general, she’s the glue who creates possessions at both ends, setting up teammates offensively and generating steals defensively.
JC IS ACTIVE pic.twitter.com/Djywiadt64
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 19, 2026
She’s already established a Dream single-season record with assists (227 before Tuesday), evidence that her impact goes considerably deeper than her scoring average. Canada has also produced multiple double-digit-assist performances, including games of 12 and a career-high 14 assists.
But the most overlooked part is her defense. At 5-foot-6, Canada can change games with her hands, anticipation and ability to pressure the ball.
“Jordin’s been great,” coach Smesko said. “She pushes a pace for us, she’s a great defender and competes on the defensive end every possession. She gives you full effort in every game. She had a great first half of the season, and started a little slow in the second half, but came out of it recently.
“She’s just been huge for us this year. She’s been an All-Star-level point guard, and hopefully she’ll be playing her best at the end of the year.”
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
The post Atlanta Dream: 3 Reasons They are a Major Title Contender appeared first on Ballislife.com.