Notes and Quotes: Atlanta 73, Washington 78

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Atlanta Notes

  • The Atlanta Dream started Erica Wheeler, Kristy Wallace, Rhyne Howard, Nia Coffey, and Cheyenne Parker for the seventh time. 
  • The Dream’s record against the Mystics moves to 24-27 all-time, and 14-11  all-time when playing in Atlanta. 
  • Individual
    • Rhyne Howard
      • Put up 20+ points for the third time this season with 21 Friday night.
      • Tied her season high record of four assists (last: 5/7 vs. Dallas).
    • Nia Coffey
      • Recorded her second career high double-double and first since 2018 with 12 points and a season-best 10 rebounds. 
    • Cheyenne Parker 
      • Second leading scorer of the night with 13 points and 6 rebounds
    • Kristy Wallace earned a season-high assists with 5 assists (previously had 3 two times)
  • Team
    • The Mystics shot just 16.7 percent from the three-point line, the lowest of any Dream opponent this season (previous: 20.0% at Indiana, 5/17). 
    • Washington had 17 turnovers, which ties the most for any Dream opponent this season for the third time. 

Quotes 

Head Coach Tanisha Wright 

Opening statement…

“I think we put together three good quarters. But in this league you can’t put together three good quarters and still win, right? You gotta play a full game, we didn’t do that. Give Washington all the credit, you know they stuck in, stuck in, hung in, hung in and down the stretch they made the right plays that they needed in order to win a game.”

On measuring the talent in the division…

“I mean Washington’s a great team. We think we’re a pretty good team too, but we’re still learning, we’re young. We just have to have a bounce back mentality. We’re gonna go [to Washington], we’re gonna compete our a**** off and we’re gonna see what happens.”

Guard Erica Wheeler (#17)

On the physical play throughout the game…

“I mean it’s a part of the game. You know, you just [have to] be more aggressive. Nobody is just gonna give us anything and we just have to play through it. Can’t worry about the refs, you just have to worry about ourselves as a team. It’s a part of the game.”

Forward Nia Coffey (#12)

On bringing the intensity for the rematch on Tuesday..

“We have to have the same energy and intensity on defense. It starts with our defense. So I’d say it starts with that.”