The Atlanta Dream and three reasons for optimism

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Atlanta Dream.

The 7-17 record is not a true representation of the talent on this squad. And the fan support hasn’t wavered either, with the Atlanta faithful selling out each of the 10 games in Gateway Arena Center as well as the record-breaking crowd in State Farm Arena this season. So the vibes of a new era in women’s basketball are still intact halfway through the season.

The team needs to use this month long break to get healthy, reset their minds, and continue gelling on-court in order to push for a playoff spot. It’s too early to throw in the towel, so let’s attempt to find some silver linings and sources for hope going forward.

I detailed the many issues of this year’s Atlanta Dream here, so I’d like to use today to strike a more positive tone. Here are three points of optimism for the Dream as we move into the second part of 2024.

There’s still time to turn things around

Despite the clock ticking against them, there are eight spots for 12 teams in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs. So, an overall record six or even eight games below .500 could possibly get them there. Certainly, that would require the Dream to still win a majority of their remaining games, but anything 9-7 or better going forward at least puts them in the conversation.

While they are currently three games back of the Chicago Sky (10-14) for eighth place, the Dream have a good bit more playoff experience than that of the Sky. Add to that the trade of Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun, and it’s possible the Sky opt to focus on the future rather than push hard for the playoffs.

Just above them are the even younger Indiana Fever (11-13), who have surprised lately after a tough opening to their season, but they could still falter down the stretch of this season.

Last season, the Dream broke a six-season streak of missing the playoffs with a 19-21 regular season record to give them a 5-seed in the eight-team bracket (all eight teams are seeded regardless of conference). There, they fell to the Dallas Wings in two games, but it’s clear that playoff experience is something they want to achieve again in order to improve on that result this time around.

In short, anything can happen if the Dream are able to have a strong 16-game stretch and get some help from one of the two teams above them.

Allisha Gray is here to stay

Guard/wing Allisha Gray is putting up another career season with the Dream. After breaking through with her first All-Star Season last year, she doubled it up this season with averages of 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game so far after appearing in every single game in 2024 to this point.

Beyond the regular season accolades, she became the first player ever to win the Skills Competition and the 3-Point Contest in the same year at the All-Star festivities — a feat which netted her a nice salary bonus.

After a July 2 loss to the Chicago Sky, Allisha Gray talked about her gratitude for the career change, saying, “[c]oming to Atlanta, I always say, is the best thing to happen to my career. Being here, I’ve been able to be set up for success. I just feel free and [coach Wright] allows me to play and be free and have fun on the court. I say this all the time, but coming to Atlanta might really revive my career.”

The Dream have unearthed a bonafide star and capable sidekick to former number one overall pick Rhyne Howard. Even if the playoff push falls short this season, the Dream have a pair of pillars to build around for the future.

The Canada-Howard-Gray backcourt

The Howard-Gray pair was just as excellent in 2023, but they lacked a true engine a point guard to help the offense against elite teams in the WNBA. That hole at point guard was ultimately the biggest lowlight (along with a pair of large blown leads) in the two-game playoff sweep to the Wings.

This past offseason, the Dream traded for Jordin Canada using a package of Aari McDonald and draft pick equity hoping to solve their point guard issues over the recent years. Well, even if in a brief four-game stint, it’s safe to say Canada looks the part.

I talked in the previous piece about Canada’s prowess as a true floor general here, and that ability will really pay dividends in allowing Howard and Gray to operate off the ball more and look for scoring pockets.

Sadly, Rhyne Howard has had to watch from the bench as Jordin Canada made her return from an offseason hand injury, and Howard’s return from an injury of her own coincided with a Canada absence for a broken finger.

Still, after 10 games out of action, she was grateful for the chance to play again.

“It felt great,” Rhyne Howard had to say about her return in the last game before the break against the Minnesota Lynx. “Really the biggest thing for me was just being back with my teammates. You know, it’s hard watching on the sidelines when you know how much of an impact you can have on the game.”

I would have to imagine Canada echos those remarks, with her having missed 20 out of a possible 24 games so far this season. This backcourt trio could be really good, but we just haven’t had the chance to witness it in action.

I continue to hold out hope that it’s as good as advertised. And there’s really only one direction to head from their 12th-ranked offense to this point. Here’s to this trio hitting the ground running starting on August 16 in their return home game against the Seattle Storm.