The Atlanta Dream sit at 2-1 after three games to open the 2026 WNBA season. How has the team responded to early injuries and two new additions in the frontcourt?
Atlanta’s bench contributes in comeback attempt
In their first two games, the Atlanta Dream heavily leaned on their starting five players. Michael Waterloo spoke to Coach Smesko after the first game to ask about player usage:
The Dream played their starters MAJOR minutes tonight and didn’t use the bench – aside from Te-Hina Paopao much at all. Was that by design or game script? I asked
Karl Smesko about it postgame. #WNBA I @theixsports.bsky.social
— Pitch Mr. Perfect (@michaelwaterloo.bsky.social) May 9, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Waterloo went on to write that in the second Dream game, every Atlanta starter played at least 31 minutes. In their home opener against Las Vegas, these numbers were going to change as the Dream lost Rhyne Howard to a concussion while already playing without Brionna Jones. Jones and Howard are significant offensive threats and crucial defenders in Atlanta’s system under Coach Karl Smesko. To replace the two All-Stars, Naz Hillmon and Te-Hina Paopao joined the starting lineup for Atlanta.
The Dream were within one point of the Aces at the end of the first quarter, which was an improvement after their first-quarter struggles in the two previous games. At halftime, the Dream were down by seven points before struggling in the third quarter, at one point facing a nineteen-point deficit with several Dream players in foul trouble. Momentum started to shift with 7:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, as Atlanta went on a sixteen-point run consisting of:
- Allisha Gray: made layup
- Allisha Gray: two made free throws
- Allisha Gray: made driving jump shot
- Naz Hillmon: one made free throw
- Madina Okot: made layup
- Madina Okot: made layup
- Naz Hillmon: made layup
- Te-Hina Paopao: made three-point shot
Only one of those scorers, Gray, was projected to be part of Atlanta’s starting five. Hillmon and Paopao had the best +/- of Atlanta’s starters in Sunday’s matchup (at +5 and +6, respectively), while Okot was +18 in 16 minutes. Indya Nivar also finished with a +3 in ten minutes of play despite not scoring, with steady defense along with a stat line including six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. Although Atlanta was able to take the lead in the fourth quarter with 36.5 seconds left, they eventually fell short in the final minute as Chelsea Gray sank a pullup jumper with 3.4 seconds left in the game before stealing the ball from Allisha Gray on Atlanta’s final play.
Spotlight on Madina Okot’s early impact
Although thousands of fans attending the Dream home opener in State Farm Arena left disappointed by the game result, one highlight of the game was the performance of rookie Madina Okot. South Carolina fans throughout the arena cheered on Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, and A’ja Wilson throughout the game, but Okot showed Atlanta fans why the Dream drafted her at #13 overall in the 2026 WNBA draft.
The 6’6” center had her first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Coach Karl Smesko praised Okot after the game in his press conference, stating “I really do think that she’s going to end up being one of the best players in this league.” Along with Angel Reese, Okot helped limit A’ja Wilson to 20 points on 50% shooting from the field, with a +/- rating in the game for Wilson of -3.
Checking in on Angel Reese
While Angel Reese’s defense helped minimize A’ja Wilson’s threat in the paint, it cannot be denied that Reese had a tough game offensively. Reese had eight turnovers, including multiple calls for traveling. She also was 1-8 shooting, failing to earn a double-double against the Las Vegas Aces for the first time in her career. This performance was a significant outlier for Reese in her young career: she only had one game in her first two seasons with eight or more turnovers and only had a single previous game in her career with a field goal percentage under 22%. For reference, even future Hall of Famer and 2025 MVP A’ja Wilson had two games in the 2025 season shooting under 22% from the field.
While the Dream would have benefited from a stronger offensive game from Angel Reese, she showed her rebounding prowess throughout the game and had a no-look assist highlight following a pump fake on three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson:
It is unfortunate that Reese had a bad offensive performance in the nationally-televised contest against the reigning WNBA champions, but Coach Smesko and her teammates spoke highly of her influence in their post-game press conferences. Reese has already added value to the Dream with her rebounding, screening, and impact on opponent spacing. Reese earned double-doubles in her first two games while shooting 70% from the free throw line. Despite failing to reach double digits against the Aces, Reese is still second in the WNBA for total rebounds, behind only Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics (whose statistics benefit from an overtime game against the Indiana Fever).
At 24 years old, Reese has time and room to grow under Smesko’s tutelage. When the Dream are at full strength with Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard active, Atlanta will have more options for matching up with opposing teams and providing players with rotational rest to optimize their performance.
What are your reactions to Atlanta’s first three games? Let us know in the comments below!
