The Atlanta Dream didn’t just beat the Washington Mystics Saturday — they dismantled them. In a game defined by unrelenting defense, a massive rebounding disparity, and a third-quarter coaching ejection, the Dream cruised to a commanding 109-77 victory at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park.
The 32-point win tied Atlanta’s second-highest scoring output in franchise history and extended their winning streak against Washington to four games. The Dream was led by another double-double performance by forward Angel Reese.
Let’s break down how Atlanta took control throughout the game.
The Frontcourt Battle
The matchup down low lived up to the billing, with both teams relying strongly on their standout forwards.
- Angel Reese (Dream): Reese was an absolute force on the glass, pulling down a season-high 17 rebounds to go with her 18 points. She also grabbed four of the team’s 16 steals, securing her fourth consecutive double-double (and seventh of the season). Her aggressiveness inside continually drew fouls, setting a physical tone that Washington struggled to match.
- Kiki Iriafen (Mystics): Despite the blowout, the Mystics’ second-year star shone offensively. Iriafen dropped a game-high 24 points on an efficient 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while adding three rebounds and three assists. She carried the scoring load for Washington, but simply didn’t have enough help on the boards against Atlanta’s size.
Citron’s Return Provides a Spark
One of the bright spots for Washington was the return of Sonia Citron, who had missed the previous game with a foot injury. She stepped right back into her playmaking role, logging 29 minutes and finishing with 18 points (including two three-pointers) and a team-high 6 assists. While her return added much-needed offensive creation for the Mystics, the team ultimately couldn’t generate enough consistent stops on the other end to keep it close.
The Turning Point: Sydney Johnson’s Ejection
The game’s tension boiled over with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter. While guarding a driving Angel Reese, Washington’s Alicia Florez was whistled for a foul. Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson vehemently contested the call, resulting in two rapid-fire technical fouls and an automatic ejection.
Despite attempts by his assistant coaches and Kiki Iriafen to hold him back, an irate Johnson was eventually escorted off the court by police and arena security. Assistant coach Emre Vatansever took over the clipboard, but the damage was already done. Atlanta restricted Washington to just 13 points in the third quarter, pushing their lead to 26 and effectively slamming the door.
By the Numbers: How Atlanta Ran Away With It
The Dream established their dominance early when Rhyne Howard hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 3:44 left in the first quarter. That gave Atlanta a lead they maintained by double digits for the final 26-plus minutes of the game.
- Suffocating Defense: Howard paced the perimeter defense with 19 points and a career-high-tying 6 steals, moving into fourth place on the Dream’s all-time steals list. Atlanta forced 17 total turnovers, converting them directly into 26 points.
- Owning the Glass: Led by Reese, the Dream heavily outrebounded the Mystics 42 to 26.
- Parade to the Line: Atlanta’s constant attacking drew constant fouls, leading to season highs in both free-throw attempts (41) and makes (32).
- Bench Depth: Every eligible Atlanta player scored. The Dream’s bench poured in 40 points, led by Jordin Canada and rookie Madina Okot (11 points each), and Isobel Borlase, who chipped in 9 points and earned praise from Reese as a “smooth criminal” on the court.
With the victory, Atlanta improves to a strong 7-3, asserting itself as a defensive juggernaut this season, while the Mystics fall to 4-5 as they look to regroup.
