Tip‑Off: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
Venue: Gateway Center Arena — College Park, Georgia
Broadcast: ESPN2 / League Pass
Venue Context
Gateway Center Arena is one of the league’s more intimate and energetic home courts. Atlanta typically plays faster and more aggressively at home, especially defensively, where their pressure schemes force turnovers at a top‑tier rate. Phoenix enters as a road underdog in a building where the Dream have been strong early in the season.
Injury Report
Phoenix Mercury
- Brittney Griner — OUT (ankle sprain, week‑to‑week)
- Rebecca Allen — OUT (hand fracture)
- Diana Taurasi — active (rest management monitored, expected to play)
- Kahleah Copper — active
- Natasha Cloud — active
Atlanta Dream
- Aari McDonald — OUT (knee)
- Jordin Canada — OUT (wrist)
- Rhyne Howard — active (ankle soreness, probable)
- Tina Charles — active
- Cheyenne Parker‑Tyers — active
Impact: Phoenix missing Griner is the biggest storyline — the Mercury lose their rim protection, interior scoring, and defensive anchor. Atlanta missing McDonald and Canada hurts guard depth, but their core rotation remains intact.
Team Records & Recent Form
Phoenix Mercury (2–4)
- Last 5: 2–3
- Offensive Trend: Copper carrying the scoring load; spacing inconsistent
- Defensive Trend: Bottom‑tier interior defense without Griner
- Road Performance: 1–2 on the road
Atlanta Dream (3–1)
- Last 5: 3–1
- Offensive Trend: Efficient early-season scoring, strong transition play
- Defensive Trend: Top‑5 in forced turnovers
- Home Performance: 2–0 at home
Key Player Matchups
Kahleah Copper (PHX) vs. Rhyne Howard (ATL)
- Copper averaging over 22 PPG in her last three
- Howard shooting 38% from deep and is Atlanta’s primary two‑way star
- Copper’s downhill aggression vs Howard’s length is the game’s premier matchup
Natasha Cloud (PHX) vs. Allisha Gray (ATL)
- Cloud must control pace and create offense without Griner
- Gray’s perimeter defense and transition scoring give Atlanta a clear edge
Phoenix Frontcourt vs. Tina Charles (ATL)
- Phoenix lacks a true center with Griner out
- Charles averaging 17 & 9 and should dominate the paint
- This is the most decisive positional mismatch
Series History
- 2025 Season: Atlanta won 2–1
- Last 10 Meetings: Atlanta leads 6–4
- In Atlanta: Dream have won 4 of the last 5
- Trend: Matchups tend to be high‑tempo with strong guard scoring
Betting Trends
Phoenix Mercury
- 1–4 ATS in last 5
- 0–3 ATS without Griner
- Over is 4–1 in last 5 road games
Atlanta Dream
- 4–1 ATS in last 5 home games
- 6–2 ATS in last 8 vs Phoenix
- Under is 5–2 in last 7 overall
GAME ODDS
Phoenix Mercury 168
Atlanta Dream – 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, May 23, 2026
