The Atlanta Dream’s quest to turn the best regular season in franchise history into their first WNBA championship is off and running after an initial hitch. The Dream fell behind early but recovered nicely en route to a gritty 80-68 win over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of their WNBA first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon. It was the Dream’s first playoff win since 2018.
The Dream tandem of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each had 20 points and helped spearhead a defensive effort that kept the Fever in check after they jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. Naz Hillmon added 16 points and 9 rebounds as Atlanta’s depth proved too much for an injury-riddled Indiana roster during the second half at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 27 points and Aliyah Boston finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but Indiana did not have enough firepower to keep up with Atlanta in Game 1.
Here’s everything you missed from the Fever-Dream game on Sunday:
Player of the game
Allisha Gray didn’t have the most efficient shooting performance, but she filled up the stat sheet in Game 1 and demonstrated why she put together a career year this season. The Dream were 17 points better than the Fever when Gray was on the floor Sunday as she finished with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while igniting Atlanta’s suffocating defense.
Why the Dream won
This wasn’t a scintillating offensive display by two of the WNBA’s highest-scoring teams. Instead, Atlanta wore down the injury-riddled Fever with its defense and depth, keeping them well below their season averages. The Dream held Indiana under 35% shooting from the floor. Aside from Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever were a combined 13 of 45 shooting. Atlanta, meanwhile, had four players finish in double figures and nine players contribute at least one field goal. It seems like a replicable formula when the series heads to Indiana.
Why the Fever lost
Given Indiana’s injury situation, its options are already limited in this series. Turnovers, foul issues and poor 3-point shooting were problems the Fever couldn’t overcome in Game 1. They went 2 for 15 from beyond the arc and watched Aliyah Boston miss a key juncture of the fourth quarter with foul trouble. Mitchell and Boston formed an effective tandem when on the floor and Indiana will need to lean on them even more to keep their season alive. It’d also help if they stopped worrying about the refs. They wound up shooting more free throws than Atlanta in Game 1.
X-factor: Fever guard Lexie Hull
The Fever need another offensive option besides Mitchell and Boston, and Hull is the best remaining candidate to provide a boost. She was 3 for 13 from the floor in Game 1 and missed several good looks from 3-point range. Hit a couple of those back home in Indiana and perhaps the momentum of this series could turn.
When is Game 2?
The Indiana Fever host the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Indiana Fever’s frustration with fouls boils over
The Atlanta Dream have opened up a double-digit lead to start the fourth quarter of Game 1 and the Indiana Fever’s problems with the officials are exacerbating the problem. After Fever star Aliyah Boston picked up her fifth foul, a no call on Atlanta infuriated the Fever bench and led to coach Stephanie White picking up a technical foul. The next possession, guard Odyssey Sims got whistled for a technical foul.
The tension between the Fever and the refs had been building as the third quarter progressed, with injured star Caitlin Clark among the most demonstrative in expressing their disapproval about calls from the sideline.
End 3Q: Dream 58, Fever 53
The Indiana Fever got back into Game 1 with a 7-0 burst to begin the third quarter as Kelsey Mitchell’s effectiveness carried over into the second half. But Atlanta almost immediately responded with its own 7-0 run, and the back-and-forth sequence set the tone as these teams head into the fourth quarter. The Dream have mostly held the Fever at bay since Indiana’s hot start to the first quarter, but the Fever aren’t going away.
Mitchell (24 points) isn’t getting enough help. Aliyah Boston has been limited to four points and 12 rebounds. Lexie Hull is 3 of 12 from the floor. Natasha Howard has only four points and five shot attempts. Indiana, however, had a nice burst to close the second quarter.
This hasn’t been the prettiest game. Atlanta’s two stars, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, are a combined 9 for 27 from the field. But the Dream are proving capable of controlling the lead during a game played in a different style than they were accustomed to during the regular season. It could be a dramatic final 10 minutes.
Halftime: Dream 40, Fever 33
Rhyne Howard returned in the final two minutes of the second quarter, easing any lingering concerns after her collision with Lexie Hull early in the period. The Dream still trailed the Fever when Howard left for the locker room, but took the lead and then widened it while she was out.
Allisha Gray leads Atlanta with 13 points, perking up with Howard out. Howard added nine points as the Dream’s superior depth began to take a toll. Atlanta has a 10-1 advantage in bench points at halftime. Kelsey Mitchell has 13 points for the Fever, who were out-scored by 10 in the second quarter. The rest of the Indiana roster was 7 for 24 from the field in the first half. The good news is Odyssey Sims did return from her injury scare just before halftime, so she should be available for the second half.
Indiana Fever injury issues continue
The Fever’s injury woes are well-documented, with Caitlin Clark leading a group of five players not playing this postseason due to season-ending injuries. The problems have been particularly bad at point guard, where the Fever have had to scramble all year. They may have to again.
Fever guard Odyssey Sims left Sunday’s Game 1 against the Atlanta Dream after appearing to suffer a foot or ankle injury while driving to the basket. Sims was only signed by the Fever last month to a hardship contract. The 11-year veteran started Sunday’s game and had six points and one assist in more than 12 minutes of action before hobbling to the bench
Rhyne Howard injury update: Dream star leaves Game 1
There’s been an interesting turn of events during Game 1 between the Fever and Dream after Fever guard Lexie Hull collided with Dream star Rhyne Howard early in the second quarter. Howard had to leave the court after the two players’ heads appeared to inadvertently hit one another as Hull was running up court following a Howard 3-point attempt.
ESPN reported medical personnel were determining whether Howard would need stitches and Howard was seen heading back to the locker room holding a towel up to her face. She has a team-high nine points thus far.
End 1Q: Fever 21, Dream 18
The Indiana Fever remain in front of the Atlanta Dream, grabbing a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell leads all scorers with nine points on the road. Rhyne Howard has seven points to pace Atlanta after it briefly trailed by nine.
Fever grabs early lead, Dream strikes back
The Indiana Fever got off to a fast start on the road behind Kelsey Mitchell (9 points), using a 9-0 run to take a 15-6 lead early on in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series against the Atlanta Dream. The favored Dream missed eight shots in a row at one point, but Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard have begun to find their footing after the first media timeout of the afternoon. Atlanta’s deficit is down to 19-14 with less than three minutes left in the first quarter and the injury-riddled Fever are dealing with two quick fouls on guard Lexie Hull.
WNBA playoffs: Fever vs. Dream Game 1 starting lineups
What time is Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream?
The Atlanta Dream host the Indiana Fever at 3 p.m. ET (Noon, PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
How to watch Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream: TV, stream
Time: 3 p.m. ET (Noon PT)
Location: Gateway Center Arena (College Park, Georgia)
TV channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Dream vs. Fever WNBA Playoffs schedule
Game 1: Fever at Mercury, 3 p.m. ET Sunday (ABC)
Game 2: Mercury at Fever, 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Fever at Mercury, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)
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