There’s a clear reason the Atlanta Dream are carrying a six-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx in College Park, Ga.
Take a peek at Saturday night’s WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas. Three Atlanta players — Rhyne Howard, Cheyenne Parker and Allisha Gray — were there. All scored in double figures, led by Howard’s 16 points.
Parker has been a force inside for the Dream (11-8), recording three straight double-doubles before that streak ended in Wednesday night’s 85-75 home win over Seattle. She, Howard and Gray are combining for 51.8 points per game.
Howard leads the team at 18.5 ppg, pouring in 43 points in a July 2 win over Los Angeles that was the second win in Atlanta’s recent run. Gray is hitting for 18.2 ppg while adding 5.1 rebounds, and Parker is tallying 15.1 ppg and a team-high 7.5 rebounds.
Gray was a first-time All-Star after spending the past six seasons with Dallas.
“Coming to Atlanta was one of the best things that’s happened to my career,” Gray said during All-Star weekend. “Obviously, I’m a first-time All-Star. I mean, seven years in the league and finally an All-Star. It’s just amazing. Being in Atlanta, great teammates, great organization.”
If that trio and their teammates are seen licking their chops with Minnesota across the floor from them, it’s understandable. The Lynx (9-11) have allowed more than 100 points in each of their last two games, including a 107-67 blowout defeat at home Wednesday against Dallas.
“We’ve been a poor defensive team all season,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We talked about it before the game, our defensive rating. Now we’re trending even worse than that. It’s a function of our poor defense.
“We just have to keep working when we get back from the All-Star break. We have to understand it has to be a focus. We have to improve defensively. You have to be willing to do the little things in practice. That’s where it all starts.”
The good news for the Lynx is they should get some reinforcements. Jessica Shepard (non-COVID illness), Tiffany Mitchell (wrist) and Aerial Powers (ankle) are all scheduled to return soon. Shepard, who has missed the last 11 games, is the team’s top rebounder at 9.2 per game.
–Field Level Media
