Dream try to stay in playoff fight, face Storm

The visiting Atlanta Dream hope to get back into the win column against the slumping Seattle Storm on Wednesday night.

Out of the Olympic break, Atlanta (10-19) came out strong. With formerly injured stars Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada back and healthy, the Dream responded. Atlanta resumed WNBA play with a three-game winning streak, starting against the Storm.

Since then, the Dream lost their form and are now on a two-game losing streak. Monday, the Indiana Fever's visit ended with an 84-79 defeat. However, the loss showed the Dream, who are pushing for a playoff spot, still have fight left with 11 games remaining.

In the third quarter, Indiana held an 18-point lead over Atlanta. Down 59-41, the Dream scored 38 points in the final 17:26, drawing as close as two points. It was a comeback that fell short but showed something.

"I tell these guys, ‘I don't care about the score, wins, losses,'" Tina Charles said. "I just care about the character we showed throughout the game, and I thought we showed great character, just the resilience we showed."

The veteran Charles led the way in the final stretch, scoring 16 points in the second half.

Now it gets difficult for the Dream. After playing five games at home to return from the break, they travel to the West Coast, starting with a matchup against the Storm.

Seattle (18-11) entered the break on a three-game winning streak, featuring a win against the third-place Minnesota Lynx. After returning, the Storm had three road games. Seattle lost two, both to teams below them in the WNBA standings. The loss to the Dream included a 14-point third quarter Seattle lead that Atlanta wiped away, winning 83-81.

It's not all road woes, either. The Storm enter Wednesday night following a Monday loss to the 10th-place Washington Mystics in Seattle.

To turn momentum around, Seattle hopes to get new signee Gabby Williams reacclimated into the lineup. After a strong performance with France in the Paris Olympics, Williams returned to the Storm. Her signing came after playing with Seattle in 2023, starting eight straight games before suffering a stress fracture in her foot.

"I think we have all seen the growth in Gabby," Jewell Loyd said. "And her ability to add another spark plug for offense and defense. She brings a sense of intensity."

--Field Level Media