Dream Withstand Sky Rally to Earn 93-91 Victory

The Atlanta Dream built an early cushion, weathered a determined second-half comeback from the Chicago Sky, and held on for a 93-91 victory Sunday in a game that featured dramatic momentum swings and a competitive finish.

Atlanta controlled much of the opening half, using an efficient offensive performance and defensive pressure to establish a double-digit lead. The Dream outscored Chicago 31-15 in the first quarter, setting the tone early before extending their advantage to 49-34 by halftime. During the opening 20 minutes, Atlanta found success both in transition and in the half court while limiting the Sky’s offensive rhythm.

Chicago refused to let the game slip away after the break.

The Sky responded with one of their strongest stretches of the afternoon, outscoring Atlanta 27-13 in the third quarter to erase nearly all of the deficit. After trailing by as many as 18 points, Chicago entered the fourth quarter down just one possession, setting up an intense finish between the two Eastern Conference rivals.

The final period featured multiple momentum shifts as both teams traded baskets down the stretch. Chicago continued to pressure the Dream offensively, but Atlanta answered with timely scoring and key defensive stops to preserve the narrow victory. Despite the Sky’s second-half surge, the Dream never surrendered the lead and secured the two-point win.

Allisha Gray paced all scorers with 29 points to lead Atlanta’s offense. Madina Okot continued her strong rookie campaign with 14 points while shooting 6-of-8 from the field. Veteran point guard Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and nine assists, orchestrating the offense throughout the afternoon, while Rhyne Howard contributed across the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three blocked shots.

Chicago received balanced production from several key contributors. Azurá Stevens led the Sky with 20 points, while rookie Sydney Taylor added 18 points. Kamilla Cardoso finished with 15 points, Elizabeth Williams scored 12, and Courtney Vandersloot chipped in 11 points as the Sky placed five players in double figures. The balanced scoring helped fuel Chicago’s comeback effort after a slow first half.

Although Atlanta shot slightly better from the field, both teams found success offensively throughout the contest. The Dream finished 35-of-78 (44.9%) from the floor compared to Chicago’s 35-of-81 (43.2%). Atlanta also held an advantage at the free-throw line, converting 22 of 26 attempts, while the Sky made 13 of their 18 free throws.

Chicago controlled several hustle categories despite the loss. The Sky outscored the Dream 42-38 in points in the paint, held a 15-8 edge in second-chance points, and finished with a 12-9 advantage in fast-break points. Atlanta, however, capitalized on efficient offensive possessions and limited mistakes during critical moments, allowing the Dream to withstand Chicago’s late push.

The game showcased two contrasting halves. Atlanta dictated the pace early with crisp ball movement and efficient shooting, while Chicago adjusted after halftime with increased defensive intensity and improved offensive execution. The Sky’s comeback ultimately fell just short as the Dream answered every late challenge to maintain control until the final buzzer.

With the victory, Atlanta improved to 16-10 on the season, strengthening its position in the WNBA playoff race. Chicago dropped to 9-17 but demonstrated resilience after overcoming a significant first-half deficit and pushing one of the league’s top teams to the final possession.