The Atlanta Dream have successfully moved past the first round of the WNBA playoffs for the first time in four years. They achieved this by defeating the Washington Mystics in Game 2, ending the series with an 83-75 win. Atlanta topped the Eastern Conference in the regular season, showing strong performance.

Key Players and Performance

Star guard Allisha Gray was pivotal in leading the Dream with 22 points, securing their place in the semifinals, a feat not achieved since 2018. Forward Angel Reese also played a crucial role, scoring 15 points with seven rebounds. This win sets up a semifinal clash against the New York Liberty.

The Liberty made history by eliminating the top-seeded Minnesota, marking a first for an eighth seed in the league’s history.

The Dream will host the first game of the semifinals against New York this Sunday.

Game Highlights

Jordin Canada had notable contributions in the fourth quarter, sinking consecutive three-pointers and a jumper, extending Atlanta’s lead significantly. Rhyne Howard, the top pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, added 15 points before fouling out. Despite a strong third-quarter run by the Mystics, which narrowed the gap to 65-62, the Dream regained control and rebuilt their lead.

The Mystics, appearing in the playoffs for the first time since their 2019 championship victory, turned over the ball 11 times in the first half. Meanwhile, the Dream, although three-time conference champions between 2010 and 2013, have yet to clinch a WNBA championship title.

In other news, the Dallas Wings faced off against the Golden State Valkyries in another playoff matchup.

The information was gathered with contributions from the Associated Press and sportswriter Chantz Martin for Fox News Digital.