Atlanta Dream Use Physicality to Hold Off Indiana Fever in Thrilling Encounter
In a captivating WNBA match, the Atlanta Dream utilised their physicality to outmaneuvre the Indiana Fever, securing a 91-90 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday. According to ESPN, the Dream’s strategy, spearheaded by coach Karl Smesko, proved effective in containing the Fever’s star players.
The Dream’s new-look roster, bolstered by the addition of veteran post players Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones in free agency, demonstrated their prowess on the court. Griner notched 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Jones contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds. This impressive performance marked a significant bounce-back for Atlanta, following their 94-90 season-opening loss at Washington on Friday.
As ESPN reports, Fever coach Stephanie White, who previously led the Connecticut Sun to a 5-1 record against the Fever last season, acknowledged that opponents will attempt to exploit Indiana’s weaknesses through physical play. "We didn’t handle their physicality," White admitted. "That’s going to be the M.O. against us all year long. Teams are going to be physical. That’s how I’d play us. They’re going to push us, they’re going to shove us, they’re going to hold us. They’re going to do whatever they’re allowed to get away with, and we have to figure out how to use that physicality against them."
The Fever’s star player, Caitlin Clark, delivered another impressive performance, notching 27 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Her teammates, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, also played well, scoring 24 points each. However, the Fever’s inability to convert free throws, making just 16 of 26 attempts, proved costly. In contrast, Atlanta made 25 of 32 free throws, a significant factor in their victory.
As quoted by ESPN, Mitchell emphasised the importance of discipline and awareness in the team’s performance. "Today we failed miserably as a group because there were certain things set in stone for us to be effective from quarter 1 to quarter 4," Mitchell said. "And you guys didn’t see what it was supposed to look like until quarter 3½. So it kinds of just lies in the discipline right now: awareness, knowing personnel. Certain stuff we have to home in on to be successful. Our lulls were too low. They can’t be that low. We don’t have that margin for error."
Despite trailing for most of the game, the Fever mounted a remarkable comeback, outscoring Atlanta 25-15 in the fourth quarter. With 21.1 seconds remaining, Indiana took the lead for the first time since the opening basket when Boston made the second of two free throws. However, Rhyne Howard’s clutch free throws for Atlanta sealed the win for the Dream.
As ESPN notes, the Fever will look to regroup and exact revenge when they face the Dream again on Thursday at State Farm Arena. The game has been moved to the larger venue to accommodate the expected large crowd drawn by Fever star Caitlin Clark. Clark, meanwhile, remains optimistic about her team’s chances, stating, "We wanted to win this game, but this is great for our team. A little adversity, how are we going to respond? I have to give my team a lot of credit; we never gave up. We found a way to get back in it. We have a chance to go there and play them [again]. We can get a little redemption if we go down there and play well."
The Atlanta Dream’s win marks a significant statement in the WNBA, as they look to build on their momentum and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season. As ESPN reports, the team’s physicality and strategic play will undoubtedly be a challenge for opponents to overcome.
The Dream and Fever meet again on Thursday, providing an opportunity for the Fever to bounce back and even the series. With both teams showcasing their skills and determination, this WNBA matchup promises to be an exciting and closely contested encounter.
The article was originally published by ESPN and can be found at: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45246874/dream-use-physicality-hold-fever-bounce-back-win.
