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05/25 12:20 CDT Atlanta Dream storm back again, stay atop WNBA at 4-1 after
rally vs Phoenix
Atlanta Dream storm back again, stay atop WNBA at 4-1 after rally vs Phoenix
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
Never count the Atlanta Dream out.
The Dream have twice rallied from 15-point deficits this season to win,
including Sunday's victory over Phoenix. No one else in the WNBA has done that
once according to ESPN.
"We are resilient team, the game isn't over till it's over," Atlanta guard
Jordin Canada said after the Dream rallied to beat the Mercury. "We always come
together in the fourth quarter, whether we have to make a run or sustain a
lead. ... We battle to the very end, we get stops and try to execute down the
stretch. What we've been doing in the fourth quarter, we got to sustain that in
the first three quarters."
Atlanta sits atop the WNBA standings at 4-1 --- the only team in the league
with only one loss. The Dream head out for road games at Minnesota and Portland
this week.
The Dream are getting everyone's best shot so far which coach Karl Smesko feels
will help them down the road.
"When teams play Atlanta it's a big game for everyone now," he said. "We'll see
everyone's best shot. ... Constantly playing against a team's best effort makes
you stronger over the course of the season. They are seeing a different team
than other teams see. I've noticed that so far this year. ... Happy we met the
moment a few times already."
Power poll rankings Atlanta moved up to No. 1 for the first time in the 10-year history of the rankings. The Dream were followed by Las Vegas and Minnesota. Indiana, Dallas and New York were next. Golden State and Chicago were seventh and eighth. Los Angeles and Phoenix followed the Sky. Portland, Washington and Toronto were the 11th through 13. Seattle and Connecticut rounded out the poll. Homecourt disadvantage Through the first few weeks of the season, playing at home hasn't really been an advantage for teams. Only two teams have winning records on their home court --- Atlanta and Indiana. As a league, teams are 16-30 through Sunday's games. Player of the week Kelsey Plum of Los Angeles was the AP player of the week. She averaged 27.0 points, 8.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds to help the Sparks win both their games last week. Plum had a 38-point effort in the win at Las Vegas to spoil the Aces night the champions raised their banner from last season. Other players receiving votes included Natasha Howard of Minnesota and Rhyne Howard of Atlanta. Game of the week Atlanta at Minnesota, Wednesday. While a lot was expected of the Dream this season, the Lynx were expected to struggle early on with star Napheesa Collier sidelined after having offseason surgery on her injured ankles in late March. The Lynx have flourished with rookie guard Olivia Miles leading the way. ___ AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball |
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