The Atlanta Dream were about 10 minutes away from becoming WNBA champions.
Before that, they tied the franchise record for wins a single season. They won a playoff series for the first time since 2018. Across the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, they won a franchise-record 10 games in a row. Also, they won a Finals game for the first time in team history, and notched two more to advance to the first Game 7 in WNBA history.
And, again, they were a Gabby Williams explosion away from winning
it.
It was, undoubtedly, the most successful season in team history. So, why did it happen? And, what’s next? Here’s a look back at the Dream’s 2026 season. In the comments, be sure to share your perspective.
Atlanta has entered and embraced their Angel Era
The acquisition of Angel Reese, obviously, drove the Dream to new heights.
While her impact exceeded the boundaries of the basketball court, as Angel almost instantly became one of the most culturally influential athletes in Atlanta sports history, she was still more impactful on the court, elevating the Dream with her competitive mentality as she put together a Defensive Player of the Year-winning and Second Team All-WNBA-worthy season.
Throughout the season, Angel kept getting better, and so did Atlanta. The ascent appeared unstoppable.
After the first three games of the Finals, it seemed that Reese’s relentless rise wasn’t going to stop until she had her hands on two pieces of hardware: the championship and Finals MVP trophies.
The final four games of the series, however, showed that Angel’s greatness was not immune to the gravity of the game.
The history of pro basketball reminds that trials, tribulations and tough moments are prerequisites to the ultimate triumph. Reese could never rediscover her dominant rhythm, particularly struggling in Game 7.
Angel, however, has always demonstrated an acute understanding of her limitations, in addition to an unmatched motivation to overcome them. That attitude and approach makes it conceivable that, led by Angel, Atlanta can be confident that their championship window will open wider.
After Game 7, Reese asserted, “And just because we didn’t win today doesn’t mean that we won’t be champions in the future.”
Reese also spoke to her improvement under head coach Karl Smesko and how she intends to build on it over the offseason, stating:
When individually you get better in the offseason, you get better collectively, and you can see that Karl puts a lot of work in. I’m sure he’s going to see all of us this offseason, and I’m honestly looking forward to another year under Karl and his development and his system.
For Dream fans, the disappointment of coming up short can be alleviated by Angel, who additionally insisted, “It’s tough in the moment but we’ll be back, and I always say, delayed not denied.”
Rhyne Howard established herself as a different kind of superstar
Last season, the Dream embraced defense. This season, they made it their identity.
Reese’s DPOY win, in addition to Rhyne Howard’s and Jordin Canada’s selections to the All-Defensive First and Second Teams, respectively, were acclamations and confirmations of Atlanta’s commitment to the defensive end. That trio occupied the top three spots on the steals leaderboard, led by Howard’s 2.3 per game.
That Howard has elected apply all her talents on the defensive end is particularly notable. She was top prospect because her potential as an offensive star; the expectation was that her defense would but acceptable but unremarkable.
The near-opposite, however, has occurred.
Howard is capable of offensive showings that suggest she is in the scoring superstar stratosphere, but because of her desire to be a two-way player who makes an all-round impact, she doesn’t consistently cruise at that offensive altitude.
In her league-high 34.2 minutes per game, Howard remained dialed in on the defensive end, while doing what’s needed on the offense. She operated as part of—rather than as the center of—the Atlanta offense, primarily serving as a 3-point shooting threat as 8.8 of her career-low total shot attempts per game came from behind the arc in 2026. She also continued to improve as a facilitator, taking advantage of her shooting threat, plus her height, to unlock a wider playmaking portfolio.
That doesn’t mean that Howard’s offensive approach isn’t frustrating.
Because she can sometimes look like one of the most talented offensive players in the world, it can be maddening when she seems to settle for 3s, refuse to attack the basket or choose not to assert herself. But, with all the energy she’s applying to the defensive end, it’s unrealistic for Howard to be otherworldly on both sides of the ball, especially with her minutes load. Her effort on defense, in combination with her minutes, also seems to sap her shooting touch, leading to some spells where her shot is way off.
In the tightly-contested Finals against the Valkyries, where an extra bucket here or a made shot there may have swung the series in the Dream’s favor, Howard’s decision to sacrifice better offense for excellent defense can feel like the wrong decision. But, the very fact that the Dream were in the Finals, advancing there over players and teams that have prioritized offense, indicates that Howard’s approach is more right than wrong.
Rhyne, in short, is traveling a different kind of superstar path.
It’s not perfect, and there’s room for improvement. But because she’s been willing to eschew the traditional privileges that come with exceptionally-gifted perimeter scorers—cook on offense, coast on defense—the Dream are in a better place.
Dream fans should trust the Smesko system
At some point during the 2027 season, the Dream likely will be declared a disappointment. They’ll suffer an ugly loss or two. Their record won’t be as strong as expected. A return to the Finals will seem far-fetched.
But, it’s just as likely that, by season’s end, the Dream will be right where they were expected to be.
That’s the Smesko system.
In Smekso’s two seasons at the helm of the Dream, it’s been a slow burn that culminates with an eventual ignition. Atlanta gets off to an okay-ish start before experiencing some turbulence around midseason. Then, all of the sudden, it comes together, with the team surging in the second half of the season, playing their best basketball at the end of the season.
The head coach, after over 20 years leading one the nation’s most successful mid-major collegiate programs, prioritizes process over panicking. He stays committed to a longer-term vision as he breathes confidence in his players, believing that the pay off will come. Reese’s gradual improvement from behind the arc is a microcosm of Smeko’s methodology.
Last year, the Smesko system faltered in the first round of the playoffs, as the Dream were upset by the Indiana Fever. This year, its postseason resilience was proven, with two series sweeps preceding an eventual Game 7 loss.
Now, it’s about refinement, and considering what Smesko and his staff have done in just two seasons, there’s reason for Dream fans to be confident about what’s next.
