The Atlanta Dream have clinched a spot in the 2018 WNBA Playoffs after defeating the Las Vegas Aces, 109-100, Tuesday night.
Atlanta will make its eighth postseason appearance in 11 years and has recorded its best record after 29 games (19-10) in franchise history. The Dream, currently sitting in second place, will continue to fight for playoff seeding over its final five games.
The 2018 WNBA Playoffs will begin Tuesday, August 21 with a pair of single-game elimination games between the No. 5 and No. 8 seeds and No. 6 and No. 7 seeds. The second round, which is also a single-game elimination game, will be played Thursday, August 23.
Important notes about last night’s victory:
- With last night’s win, the Dream clinch a playoff spot. This marks the Dream’s eighth playoff appearance in 11 years and has recorded its best record after 29 games (19-10).
- The Atlanta Dream finished with a franchise record 109 points.
- Atlanta recorded a franchise record 14 blocked shots.
- Elizabeth Williams led the Dream in scoring and finished with her 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season (22 points, a new career high).
- Williams finished with the best field goal percentage in a single game in Dream history (11-12/.917)
- Tiffany Hayes recorded her 11th 20+ point game with 21 points.
- Alex Bentley registered her fourth double-digit point game with the Dream (22 points).
- Atlanta gave up a season-high 60 first-half points to the Aces.
- The Dream are now 19-10 on the season and 11-4 at home.
- Atlanta is now 14-9 all-time against the Las Vegas Aces franchise and 9-3 in Atlanta.
- The last time two WNBA teams topped 100 points in regulation was July 13, 2011, when Phoenix beat Minnesota, 112-105.
After the game, coach Nicki Collen gave the heads up on Angel McCoughtry. She had to leave the game with a leg injury. “I’m not a doctor. Angel told me what she thought she did, but I don’t think she’s a doctor either. She was with Dr. Mines. Hopefully it’s just a little bit of a hyper-extension at this point, but certainly these games are coming – I mean we have three games in the next four days or five days – so we’ll be smart about it. We’ll be smart with her, and certainly not push her if she’s not ready.”
Atlanta Dream Playoff ticket information will be released in the coming days. Please visit www.atlantadream.net for more information.