The Atlanta Dream are having quite a season. Ranked second in the league table, they have all the glory to make a championship run. And with their latest win, they are making a strong case for why they’re real contenders.
The Dream edged out the Minnesota Lynx 75-73 in a nail-biter that had fans on the edge of their seats. With Atlanta now at 23-10 and grabbing sole possession of the second seed, this victory felt more like an almost promised berth into the WNBA Finals. And there are a lot of good reasons why this could very well be the story down the line.
Atlanta Dream Forwards As WNBA Championship Contender After Lynx Victory
It won’t be a surprising storyline if the Dream outlast all the top condensing teams and engrave their name on the WNBA championship trophy later this year. And there are valid reasons for that. Given their latest victory, they are now 8-2 in their last 10 games played.
What makes this win extra sweet is how Atlanta handled business against one of the league’s best. They’re the only team to knock off the Lynx twice this season, once with Napheesa Collier in the lineup and once without her.
If they have to maintain the rhythm, that’s the consistency Atalanta would be looking for. During the game, Allisha Gray led the charge with 27 points on solid shooting. She also had everybody talking with her MVP-level performance. Her scoring kept the Dream afloat against Minnesota’s tough defense, which ranks second in the league.
Allisha Gray TOOK OVER tonight as the @AtlantaDream defeat the No. 1 Lynx and move to the No. 2 seed 😤
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 22, 2025
27 PTS | 2 AST | 3 STL | 3 3PM
The Dream won their 23rd game of the season tonight, matching the most wins they've had in a single season in franchise history set in 2018!… pic.twitter.com/da53MWXoia
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Additionally, Gray wasn’t alone in the spotlight. Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones, both All-Stars this year, brought their A-game, with Jones stepping up as an injury replacement. The frontcourt duo of Jones and Brittney Griner adds that veteran playoff know-how.
Not to forget that Griner’s a champ, and Jones has deep runs with the Connecticut Sun. Off the bench, Naz Hillmon has been a spark as the sixth player, and rookie Te-Hina Paopao filled in nicely for Jordin Canada’s absence.
Atlanta Dream’s Road To The Championship Looks Positive
While predicting them as a clear winning might be an overstatement, this win shakes up the playoff picture, too. Atlanta’s now half a game ahead of the Las Vegas Aces and one game up on the New York Liberty, who slipped to fourth after losing to the Chicago Sky the same night.
If things stay this way, the Lynx and Liberty could end up on the same side of the bracket, giving the Dream a clearer path to the finals. Their schedule ahead looks manageable, with three games against the Sun, one versus the Wings, and back-to-back clashes with New York and Vegas.
Atlanta’s stats back up their contender vibe. They’re third in offensive rating and second in defense. With star power, experience, and reliable role players, they’re proving they can hang with anyone.