Atlanta Dream: Championship Quest Begins

Adjustment Period for the Atlanta Dream

The season got off to a slow start for the Atlanta Dream. After winning the season opener, the Dream dropped two straight and finished the month of May 3-3. June produced similar results with a 5-6 record leaving the team 8-9 after two months. It seemed as though season one under Nikki Collen, would be a year-long adjustment period.

Highs

The calendar flipped to July and all of a sudden something clicked. The Atlanta Dream began to gel into a cohesive unit. The Dream went on a tear, ripping off a WNBA record, eight game win streak. They won nine of eleven games for the month of July overall. A defeat at the hands of the Washington Mystics ended their winning streak, but that didn’t discourage Atlanta. They proceed to rattle off six more consecutive wins, and seven of the last eight to end the regular season. They won games in a variety of ways but their hallmark has been defense.

The Atlanta Dream finished as the second seed for the WNBA Playoffs. Their record of 23-11 was the best in the Eastern Conference. After starting the second 8-9, they finished the regular season an amazing 15-2 to end the season. They won games in a variety of ways but their hallmark has been the “nightmare” defense and rebounding.

Low point of the Dream’s Season

Unfortunately things haven’t been all smooth sailing for the Atlanta Dream. Major adversity struck on August 7th, as superstar Angel McCoughtry tore her ACL in a 109-100 victory over the Las Vegas Aces. She will miss the rest of the regular season. Despite the devastating blow, the Dream won four of their last five games to close the season. Renee Montgomery and Alex Bently have really stopped up in her absence. Regardless the Atlanta Dream are still a threat to win the The WNBA championship.

Accolades

As previously mentioned, Nikki Collen was awarded the WNBA Coach of the Year award. That’s an amazing accomplishment for any coach, let alone a first year head coach. Add in the fact that she’s never been a head coach, and this becomes one of the greatest single season, coaching achievements in recent years.

Atlanta Dream Guard Tiffany Hayes was snubbed from the All Star team, but her hard work and stellar play could not be denied. She was rewarded after the season by being named to the All WNBA First Team, for the first time in her career. Hayes averaged a career high 17.2 points per game to lead Atlanta. She will attempt to lead her team to their 1st WNBA title starting Sunday against the Washington Mystics.