The Atlanta Dream appear to be a brand new workforce of their return from the prolonged break for the Paris Olympics.
The Dream (9-17) have excelled of their two video games again, defeating the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Solar — two of the highest 5 groups within the WNBA. They’re going to be going for his or her first three-game profitable streak of the season on Wednesday night time after they host the Phoenix Mercury for 2 residence video games throughout a three-night span in School Park, Ga.
“Simply their capacity to come back collectively throughout these moments and keep composed, and imagine that they are effective,” coach Tanisha Wright stated. “Then go on the market and proceed to execute.”
Coming into the break, the Dream had misplaced eight straight video games.
The Mercury (15-13) stand 2-1 for the reason that break, splitting a pair of highway video games earlier than toppling the visiting Chicago Sky 86-68 on Sunday.
Diana Taurasi posted 23 factors towards Chicago, marking the third time up to now 10 video games that Kahleah Copper wasn’t the highest scorer for the Mercury.
The addition of energy ahead Monique Billings, who beforehand performed for the Dallas Wings, could possibly be a giant plus for the Mercury. She had 13 factors and eight rebounds Sunday in her first recreation with the workforce.
On Sunday, the Mercury introduced she signed a seven-day contract.
“She’s a warrior,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts stated. “To get her vitality from an athletic standpoint, her rebounding capacity. She might help us in these areas.”
As for Atlanta, Wright stated having guard Jordin Canada at full pace has been a distinction maker the previous two video games. Canada performed in solely 4 video games previous to the layoff however poured in a mixed 29 factors the previous two video games.
“Her capacity to seek out her teammates, her capacity to maintain us calm and assured,” Wright stated. “She’s an important chief on the market. There have been loads of occasions the place I seemed and we had a play known as and so they went with it.”
The Dream have acquired huge video games from Rhyne Howard (30 factors vs. Seattle) and Tina Charles (22 factors, 15 rebounds vs. Connecticut) up to now week.
In the one earlier matchup between the groups this yr, the Mercury posted an 88-85 victory in mid-Could through the opening week of the season, with Copper pouring in 38 factors for Phoenix. She made 13 free throws in that recreation.
–Discipline Stage Media
