In the course of the first week of the brand new WNBA season, the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever performed towards one another, every internet hosting a recreation—one in Indiana on Tuesday and the opposite in Atlanta on Thursday. The 2 groups ended up splitting; every attaining a street win.
The query now’s whether or not it may very well be a doable playoff matchup. The Dream is a sleeper staff, and the Fever’s staff chemistry is wanting robust by means of the primary three video games of the common season.
‘Caitlin Clark Impact’ in Good Arms in Atlanta
The Dream not too long ago performed their first house recreation at State Farm Area, influenced by the ‘Caitlin Clark impact.’ This phenomenon has led a number of WNBA groups to maneuver house video games to bigger venues to accommodate within the curiosity in Clark.
The Dream unveiled a brand new court docket that includes Playa Society’s design, which reads, “Pay respect to ladies’s sports activities.” Atlanta additionally had a sellout, marking the third time within the final yr the staff has stuffed greater than 17,000 seats within the enviornment.
“We’re so excited to tip off the house schedule in entrance of one other packed home at State Farm Area,” Atlanta Dream President and COO Morgan Shaw Parker mentioned in press launch. “Dream followers set the usual within the W. They frequently carry their ardour and vitality into the sector and our gamers feed off it. We’re so grateful for his or her assist and might’t wait to get this house season began tonight and carry the momentum by means of this weekend.”
When Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was requested about who she would pay respect to within the WNBA, she talked about the affect of her teammate, veteran ahead DeWanna Bonner. Bonner moved into third place within the WNBA’s all-time scoring checklist in league historical past within the staff’s blowout win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
“Transferring into third all-time, I don’t see individuals speaking about that sufficient,” Clark mentioned of Bonner.
Bonner now has 7,490 profession factors, precisely 3,156 factors behind WNBA all-time main scorer and legend Diana Taurasi.
Rhyne Howard vs. Caitlin Clark: Should-See Guard Matchup
On the finish of the primary quarter between the Fever and Dream in Atlanta on Thursday, Clark was strolling up on the entrance court docket when she and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard have been speaking trash to one another. They ended up having to be separated on the half-court. Clark informed Howard, “I am not afraid of you.”
Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard bought chippy early into Fever-Dream 😳👀
Clark: 11 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 0-5 3PTHoward: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK
Fever beat Dream 81-76 pic.twitter.com/Q4KI4MgPOJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) Could 23, 2025
On Tuesday, Clark, one of many contenders for the MVP award this season, had a double-double with 27 factors and 11 assists, surpassing New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu for probably the most video games with at the least 25 factors and 10 assists at 42.
On Thursday, Howard delivered an excellent efficiency for Atlanta, scoring 24 factors together with 5 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. She is acknowledged for her versatility and her potential to attain from all three ranges on the court docket.
Each Howard and Clark are ranked within the league’s high 15 with regards to factors per recreation.
Aliyah Boston’s Presence on the Court docket
Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston is at the moment averaging a double-double, with 15.7 factors and 10.0 rebounds per recreation after having a double-double within the first two video games of the season. Moreover, she is averaging 2.3 blocks per recreation and has an effectivity ranking of 24.7 over her first three video games.
Boston was chosen first general within the 2023 WNBA Draft out of South Carolina and has been persistently bettering every year. She is acknowledged for her robust protection and talent to attain from all three ranges.
The chemistry between Boston and Clark has been strengthening since Clark was additionally chosen first general in final yr’s draft out of Iowa.
How the Griner-Jones Frontcourt Experiment is Working
The additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to the frontcourt are seen as an improve for the Atlanta Dream, and the duo is proving efficient by means of the primary three video games of the season.
Griner had a big affect on the Dream’s victory on Tuesday, contributing 21 factors and eight rebounds. Her scoring and management have been notably evident within the fourth quarter for Atlanta.
Griner, nevertheless, fouled out in two consecutive video games towards Indiana, which raised issues for Atlanta. In Thursday’s recreation, she scored in single digits for the primary time this season, managing solely 5 factors and 7 rebounds. The Dream wants her to remain out of foul bother to stay aggressive in shut recreation conditions.
Bench Manufacturing Essential for Each Groups
All through the offseason, each the Dream and Fever improved their rosters, hoping to usher in extra bench depth.
For instance, the Atlanta Dream chosen guard Te-Hina Paopao at 18th general on this yr’s WNBA Draft, after she was projected to be chosen within the first spherical or early second spherical. However with Jordin Canada being out as a result of a knee harm, the staff wanted some depth on the level guard place to make sure that they’re on a playoff run in the long run.
For the Indiana Fever, Clark had a difficult evening in Atlanta on Thursday, ending a streak of constructing at the least one three-pointer in a recreation courting again to her sophomore yr at Iowa. She additionally bought into foul bother with 5 personals.
The staff wanted a whole lot of assist to bounce again with a victory. Ahead Natasha Howard, whom the Fever acquired in free company, stepped up huge time with 26 factors, seven rebounds, and two assists whereas taking pictures 70.6 p.c from the sphere.
“I felt like our defensive vitality, physicality, disruptiveness, was higher,” Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White mentioned. “We made it harder for them shifting the ball across the perimeter, we executed higher in our in our ball display protection. I felt like we had one another’s again just a little bit extra, and we performed by means of breakdowns, and that is what it will take. It wasn’t good, however we stayed collectively and we grew.”
The Indiana Fever outscored the Atlanta Dream in bench factors, 22-10, whereas a few of their starters bought into foul bother. White additionally praised to center-forward Damiris Dantas, who performed 17 minutes of motion and grabbed six rebounds whereas filling in for Boston, who bought into foul bother.
“It is large,” White mentioned. “And our depth and our potential to play completely different lineups, our potential to elevate each other up if we do not have it. I believed Damiris Dantas was large for us when (Aliyah Boston) bought in foul bother. And it is easy to take a look at numbers, however what she introduced by way of her potential to maneuver the ball, her defensive physicality was large. Clearly, what Lexie (Hull) and Sophie (Cunningham) carry for us, and even (Sydney Colson), she hadn’t performed the entire recreation, and we throw her in there in a while and rating conditions.”
Sophie Cunningham a Distinction-Maker in First Fever Sport
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham made her season debut after lacking the primary two video games as a result of a proper ankle harm. She was recognized for her 3-point taking pictures, versatility, and high-energy fashion throughout her six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.
In Thursday’s recreation, Cunningham positively impacted the staff’s protection by drawing an important offensive foul within the fourth quarter and efficiently making at the least one free throw, which helped lengthen the Fever’s margin of victory to 5 factors.
“She brings in a stage of vitality that’s large,” Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull mentioned. “And never enjoying within the couple video games, not getting an opportunity to follow absolutely earlier than getting again on the market. I used to be actually pleased with her for the vitality she introduced. She made some huge performs down the stretch, getting her palms, getting steals and deflections, and we wanted her tonight. So simply actually pleased with her to have the ability to come out and contribute like that.”
The Indiana Fever will tackle the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty, whereas the Atlanta Dream will face the Dallas Wings on Saturday. Each video games will likely be streamed on CBS Sports activities Community.
