by James Bowman, AtlantaDream.net

On Sunday, June 7th, the Atlanta Dream will play their first home game of the WNBA against the Connecticut Sun.  But did you know that the Dream have a three game home opener winning streak on the line?  Or that the Dream’s all-time record in home openers is 5-2?  Or that two home openers have ended in overtime games?  Let’s look back at Atlanta’s history of home openers which stretches all the way back to 2008.

May 23, 2008 – Detroit Shock 88, Atlanta Dream 76

The first regular season Dream home game ever played at Philips Arena left the team hoping for a better showing after their 100-67 trashing at the hands of the Connecticut Sun on the road almost a week earlier.  The Shock led 12-6 in the middle of the first quarter, but the Dream turned it around with a Camille Little putback and layup, followed by a free throw to give the Dream a 19-18 lead.  The Dream would win its first ever quarter of WNBA basketball 24-21 after the first 10 minutes. Neither team shot particularly well in the second quarter, but Betty Lennox and Erika de Souza combined for 6-for-13 shooting in the second quarter to give the Dream a 45-32 lead.

Then the roof caved in.  Betty Lennox and Ivory Latta would combine to go 0-for-12 in the second half with the Dream shooting 27.3 percent.  Former University of Georgia star Deanna Nolan was unstoppable for the Shock, shooting 9-for-13 in the second half and scoring 24 points as the Dream lost their home opener 88-76 in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,609 fans.  Atlanta would lose 15 more games after this one before winning its first WNBA game.

June 6, 2009 – Atlanta Dream 87, Indiana Fever 86 (2 OT)

This time, the Dream would start their season at Philips Arena, and the 8,709 fans would get their money’s worth with a double-overtime thriller that was one of the most exciting games in Dream history.  Furthermore, it marked the return of Chamique Holdsclaw, playing in an Atlanta Dream uniform after two years away from the WNBA.

It had all the makings of a close game.  Each team only scored nine points in the second quarter as the Dream held on to a 32-30 halftime lead.  With 16 seconds left in regulation, rookie Angel McCoughtry hit the first of two free throws but missed the second to tie the game at 71-71.  The Fever’s Briann January tried a last second shot from five feet away but it failed and the game went into overtime.

The first overtime was indecisive.  With the game tied 79-79 and 11 seconds left, the Dream had the ball, but both McCoughtry and Nikki Teasley  missed shots and the game went into a second overtime.  It would be the Fever’s game to lose with the ball in their hands with 12 seconds left and only down by one point at 87-86.  The Fever gave that final shot to all-time WNBA great Tamika Catchings, who missed the shot from 18 feet.  After 2 hours and 45 minutes of basketball, Atlanta would start its season 1-0 and make the playoffs for the first time ever by season’s end.

May 16, 2010 – Atlanta Dream 66, Indiana Fever 62

The 7,337 fans showing up for the 2010 home opener were glad to even have a team.  In the off-season, Ron Terwilliger indicated that he was walking away from team ownership and future of the franchise was in doubt.  Kathy Betty took over team ownership, but the Dream suffered another blow with Chamique Holdsclaw leaving the team.

Even with the drama off court, the Dream rolled into their home opener at Philips after beating San Antonio on the road.  The Fever undoubtedly remembered the very tight game they had played the previous home opener at Atlanta and the lead by either team never varied by more than seven points.

Going into the last quarter, Indiana held a 58-53 lead.  But then, the Fever collapsed, shooting 2-for-10 in the final ten minutes of the game.  The Dream’s shooting was even worse, but they had many more opportunities as Indiana turned the ball over six times.  Despite the Dream’s 4-for-21 shooting, Atlanta outscored Indiana 13-4 in the final quarter to grab its second win of the season.  The Dream would start the season 6-0 on its way to its first WNBA Finals appearance.

June 5, 2011 – New York Liberty 94, Atlanta Dream 88 (OT)

Atlanta was missing Angel McCoughtry (sprained left knee) as they opened the 2011 WNBA season in a game televised by SportSouth. This game would change leads 13 times as both squads ran neck and neck.

Tied 60-60 going into the fourth quarter, the Dream took a six point lead with 5:19 left to go but watched it slip away.  Nicole Powell hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to tie the game at 77-77.  Lindsey Harding answered five seconds later with a jumper but Sidney Spencer’s last-second jumper would take the game into overtime.

Coco Miller hit one of two free throws four seconds into the overtime, but it was the last lead the Dream would have.  The Liberty went 6-for-10 in the overtime period and walked away with the win.  Despite Atlanta’s 0-3 start that season, the Dream would return to the WNBA Finals.

May 25, 2012 – Atlanta Dream 100, New York Liberty 74

The Dream’s home opener was their second game of the season.  After losing to the Indiana Fever on the road, they returned home to play the Liberty in a rematch of the previous year’s home opener.  Julius “Dr. J. “ Erving came to Opening Day for a visit!

There wouldn’t be much to write home about, because it was all Atlanta.  After a brief 2-2 tie in the first minute, the Dream took the lead and never looked back, leading 48-33 at halftime and crossing the 100 point mark at 21 seconds left with a 3-point shot by Laurie Koehn. Eight players would score in double figures for Atlanta, led by Angel McCoughtry with 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting, seven assists and six steals.

May 25, 2013 – Atlanta Dream 98, Tulsa Shock 81

Exactly one year later the Atlanta Dream opened its 2013 WNBA season with a game against the Tulsa Shock.  It would be the first game with head coach Fred Williams in charge of the Dream, replacing Marynell Meadors who had been head coach since the franchise started.

As in the previous year, Atlanta coasted to a victory in a game with no lead changes and no ties.  The Shock managed to get within one point late in the second quarter but for most of the game they’d be down by double digits.  Five Atlanta players scored in double digits led by Tiffany Hayes with 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting and a 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line.  The Dream would go to the 2013 WNBA Finals; the Shock finished last in the Western Conference.  The following season, Fred Williams would be coaching the Shock – Williams would be let go at the end of the 2013 season.

May 16, 2014 – Atlanta Dream 79, San Antonio Stars 75

The year 2014 would be Atlanta’s first year with head coach Michael Cooper at the helm.  It would be his first year coaching in the WNBA since 2008.

The Stars (known as the Silver Stars the previous season) led by one point, 56-55 going into the final quarter. With less than a minute left, Angel McCoughty caught a high-low pass in the post from Sancho Lyttle and put Atlanta up 75-73.  With the potential final possession, Kayla McBride lost the ball.  Rookie Shoni Schimmel picked up the roller and headed to the Dream basket, credited with the steal.

Danielle Adams was forced to foul Schimmel, who hit two free throws with six seconds left to give Atlanta a 77-73 lead.  Adams immediately answered with a jumper that bounced off the backboard and into the basket, but with the Dream getting the ball and two seconds left, the Stars were forced to foul McCoughtry.  She hit both free throws to seal the Dream’s victory, its first of the 2014 season and the Dream’s third consecutive home season opener victory.