The tough times don’t stop.
Atlanta — In a challenging stretch for the Atlanta Dream, the team has now lost their third consecutive game, raising concerns about their performance and playoff hopes for the season. The latest defeat came at the hands of the New York Liberty, who outplayed Dream in a blowout that ended with a score of 75-96.
The Dream started the game sluggish, as they were outscored 29-18 in the first quarter. The Dream got a solid performance from Tina Charles as she delivered a standout performance in the first half. Charles scored 17 of the Dream’s 34 points in the first half. Atlanta had a strong second quarter as they shot 52.9% from the field.
Despite their efforts, the team struggled to gain in control of the game, with Liberty gradually increasing the lead thanks to a strong defensive effort and efficient scoring. The Liberty’s largest lead was 33 points.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point. The Dream offense stagnated, managing only 19 points in the period. Overall, the team was 2-for-12 on 3’s (16.7%). The defense was a lot better as they outscored the Liberty in the quarter, but they couldn’t capitalize on turnovers and missed opportunities.
Key players like Allisha Gray didn’t have a good shooting nights from the field — she in particular was 3-for-11 from the field with eight points. Haley Jones had seven points as the starting backcourt combined for just 15 points which further hampered the team’s ability to mount a comeback.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Tanisha Wright expressed disappointment but remained hopeful about the team’s potential to bounce back. “I thought our energy and effort was much better in the second half than it was in the first. Our goal and our focus right now is to try and find small ways to get better. That’s what we have to focus on right now as we can’t look at big picture. We need to put together small little things to make us a better team,” coach Wright stated.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Dream, with a upcoming game against the Connecticut Sun. The Sun are 13-3 on the season and are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Dream remains determined to break their losing streak and reestablish themselves in the Eastern Conference. The team will be looking for improved performances, particularly in critical areas like defense, rebounding, and clutch scoring.