Dream Edge Mystics 92–91 in Friday Night Thriller

The Atlanta Dream pulled out a 92–91 thriller in a win over the Washington Mystics Friday night, surviving a fourth-quarter rally and overcoming a career night from Shakira Austin. Atlanta’s strong start, led by early contributions from Naz Hillmon and Tehina Paopao, and timely shot-making by Allisha Gray, proved enough to hold off a relentless Mystics squad.

Allisha Gray drives over a Naz Hillmon screen

Washington opened the game with early momentum, jumping out to a 6–3 lead and forcing Dream head coach Karl Smesko to call a timeout at the 8:37 mark. The Mystics continued to build on that lead until Atlanta made substitutions at the 5:33 mark. Hillmon and Paopao entered and immediately shifted the energy. Hillmon notched 8 points in just 6 minutes, while Paopao added 5 points in 5 minutes. Despite trailing for most of the quarter, the Dream closed strong and took the first 24–22.

The second quarter was defined by emotional swings and lead changes. After a missed call, Gray voiced her frustration to the official near the call, only to be whistled for a questionable foul on the following play after minor contact on a Kiki Iriafen screen. That was followed by a technical foul on Gray, shifting the game’s tone. But Atlanta’s bench answered the call, outscoring Washington 21–3 by halftime. The Dream led 47–38 at the break.

Entering the fourth quarter the Dream held a 12-point lead, but the Mystics chipped away, bringing the game within single digits by the 4:41 mark. Two critical fouls down the stretch nearly sent this game to overtime. The first came at 1:26, when Rhyne Howard fouled Austin on an and-one opportunity. Atlanta challenged the call, but the review was unsuccessful, and Austin converted the free throw to cut the lead to 88–87.

After trading buckets, another costly foul was called, this time on Gray, who contested a three-point attempt from Brittney Sykes. The call came with minimal contact and it was made by the same referee who called her for a tech in the 1st half, but Gray, already sitting on a technical, had to muzzle her reaction. She walked to the other end of the court visibly frustrated. Sykes hit 2-of-3 free throws to make it a one-point game, 92–91. Atlanta managed to inbound the ball cleanly, the clock expired and the crowd erupted once the win was sealed.

The Allisha Gray foul that lead to the 3 free throws from Brittney Sykes

Karl Smesko walks the sideline

After the game, Coach Smesko addressed the team's late-game execution. “Sometimes we lose focus on what we’re trying to do… and when we do that, we’re susceptible to other teams coming back on us,” he said. “That’s why everybody loves coming to the games because they’re exciting. But I would’ve liked to make this one less exciting.”

Smesko also credited Washington for fighting their way back, particularly on the offensive boards. Shakira Austin was unstoppable, finishing with a career-high 28 points on 13/17 shooting, along with 10 rebounds—four of them offensive. The Mystics earned 19 points on second-chance attempts.

This was a game that nearly slipped away, but when it mattered, the vetted Dream team stepped up and closed the deal. With more strategic rotation and growing chemistry, Atlanta is poised to be a serious threat down the stretch.

article written by Cassie Chantel