By Sydney Gibbs

Five players scored in double digits behind Betnijah Laney’s 16 points, but the Atlanta Dream (2-8) couldn’t add to the win column, falling 96-80 to the Phoenix Mercury (6-4) on Friday night. This is Atlanta’s seventh loss in 10 games. 

The first 10 minutes started off slow for the Dream, especially offensively – they made 6-of-18 shots from the field and didn’t connect on any shots from beyond the arc. Atlanta was slowly but surely making strides once the second quarter hit. With less than 40 seconds remaining in the second frame, guard Blake Dietrick launched two back-to-back three pointers –– connecting on both to close the half but still trailed 44-34. 

The second half was not much different than the first as the Dream never claimed a lead. The Mercury came out the locker room knocking down key three-pointers and forcing turnovers. Atlanta couldn’t find a way to create a solid rhythm and Phoenix held on to their advantage. 

The Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith made back-to-back three-pointers early in the third quarter to extend the lead even further, leaving the Dream too far back to climb back into the game. Atlanta’s offense was stagnant through the end of the third frame, allowing Phoenix to go on a 13-3 run to end the quarter to outscore the Dream 28-17.

Phoenix took a comfortable 25-point lead within minutes of the fourth quarter – their largest of the game. Atlanta couldn’t find their way back into the game and suffered yet another loss on the season.

“We’re just not guarding people,” said head coach Nicki Collen. “People that know me know that while we went into free agency trying to become a better offensive team, at my core I want to coach defense. We’ve given up 33 three-pointers in the last two games and some of that is just wanting to battle through screens. That was a lot of it or not turning it over and running people off the three-point line. Not a lot of positives from this game.”

Laney scored a team-high 16 points for the Dream. Dietrick had another solid outing in her second start of the season, scoring 11 points with a career-high seven assists. Elizabeth Williams added 10 points and seven rebounds. Courtney Williams finished the contest with a double-double scoring 12 points and pulling down a career-high 14 boards. Monique Billings also added 12 points for Atlanta. 

The Atlanta Dream takes the court again this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET against the Chicago Sky.