With the WNBA’s break in full swing, the Atlanta Dream has just over four weeks to prepare for its final games of the regular season. Since playoffs are just around the corner, these last few matchups will greatly impact the Dream’s position going into the postseason.
If the season ended today, Atlanta would be seeded fourth, with a .5 game advantage over the fifth-seeded Indiana Fever. The sit at 13-12, with a 5-8 record on the road, and an 8-4 record at home. They’ve gone 7-6 in their Eastern Conference, and 6-6 against teams in the Western Conference.
Atlanta controls its own destiny and would earn a bye to the second round of playoffs with a fourth-place finish. In order for the Dream to keep their edge against the Fever and sixth-seeded Chicago Sky, the team needs to be consistent down the stretch and will look for their fans to have a strong presence at the final five home games of the 2016 season.
As of the break, Angel McCoughtry leads the Dream with 18.2 points per game, thus earning her a seventh-place league ranking in points per game. Elizabeth Williams is currently eighth in the league for rebounds with 7.6 per game, and is the team’s leading offensive rebounder with three per contest.
Originally, Sancho Lyttle was thought to have suffered a season-ending injury during the July 15 game at Indiana, but her status has recently been upgraded. She is now expected to be able to play again as soon as the team returns to the court at the end of August. Before her injury, Lyttle led the league in steals with 2.2 per game and was fifth in the league in rebounds at 8.5 per game. She currently leads the team in defensive boards (6.1).
The Dream will kick off their final few games with a crucial matchup at the Chicago Sky on August 26. The team returns to Atlanta August 28 for a Sunday afternoon meeting with the Connecticut Sun.