Big matchup in Gateway Center Arena.
Atlanta — The Atlanta Dream will battle the New York Liberty at the Gateway Center at 3pm on Sunday. The Dream have been struggling as of late as they are 1-4 in their last five games.
It will be the second matchup of the season between Atlanta and New York. New York defeated Atlanta 78-61 in the first matchup. The Dream are currently in seventh place in WNBA standings with a 6-8 record.
Rhyne Howard has officially been ruled out for the second consecutive game. The Dream probably will start the same starters in the last game with Haley Jones, Allisha Gray, Nia Coffey, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Tina Charles.
Gray needs 22 points to achieve 3,000 points in her career. She has been an integral part of the offense this season. Coffey is also nearing in on a milestone as she is 11 points from 1,000 career points. Charles is averaging 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds a game as the veteran is continuing to provide key leadership for the Dream. In the last game Charles had a game-high 24 points.
New York has one of the better records in the league as they come into the game with a 13-3 record. They are currently in second place in the WNBA standings. New York has four players averaging more than 12 points per game. Breanna Stewart is the leading scorer as she averaging 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. She had 33 points in their last game against the Sparks.
Sabrina Ionescu is the team second leading scorer with 18.6 points per game. Veteran forward Jonquel Jones is also having a good season as she is averaging 17.1 points per game. Lastly, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is averaging 12.1 points per game.
The Dream will look to enforce their offensive strategy which revolves around a fast-paced, high-tempo game. With dynamic players like Gray and Charles, the Dream aim to push the ball in transition and capitalize on fastbreak opportunities. In the half-court setting, they will rely on pick-and-roll plays and off-ball movement to create scoring chances.
Defensively, the Dream will focus on pressure defense and forcing turnovers. Head coach Tanisha Wright’s emphasis on defensive intensity is designed to disrupt opponents’ offensive rhythm and generate scoring opportunities from defense. The team’s ability to switch seamlessly on defense and contest shots will be key to their success in the game.