WNBA Game Preview: Seattle Storm (16-17) vs. Atlanta Dream (21-11)

Venue: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC 🇨🇦
Tip-off: 10:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN
Special Event: First-ever WNBA regular-season game in Canada

Match Context

This neutral-site showdown in Vancouver marks the WNBA’s first regular-season game outside the U.S. Atlanta enters riding a six-game win streak and sits atop the Eastern Conference. Seattle, meanwhile, is in freefall—losing six straight in August and clinging to the final playoff spot in the West.

Atlanta won the most recent matchup 85–75 on August 14, led by Rhyne Howard’s 25 points and a third-quarter barrage of threes. Seattle is 0–6 this month, with five of those losses decided by four points or fewer.

Key Players to Watch

Atlanta Dream

Allisha Gray – Team’s leading scorer (19.0 PPG); consistent two-way threat

Rhyne Howard – Back from injury; dropped 25 points vs. Seattle on Wednesday

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus – 12.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG; physical interior presence

Jordin Canada – OUT (hamstring); Dream’s top playmaker (5.7 APG)

Seattle Storm

Nneka Ogwumike – 18.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG; 16 straight games in double figures

Brittney Sykes – 16.0 PPG; added from Washington midseason

Jewell Loyd – 14.7 PPG; shooting 44.8% from the field

Katie Lou Samuelson – OUT for season (knee)

Team Trends & Stats

Team	Record	Last 10	PPG	Opp PPG	FG%	3PT%
Dream	21–11	8–2	85.4	77.5	47.1%	35.2%
Storm	16–17	2–8	83.6	84.4	44.9%	33.8%

Dream lead WNBA in first-quarter win rate (21–10 overall, 13–4 road)

Storm are worst first-quarter home team ATS (covered 4 of 16)

Last four meetings between these teams have gone Over the total

Tactical Breakdown

Atlanta will push pace and rely on Gray and Howard to stretch Seattle’s defense.

Seattle must contain Howard and win the rebounding battle to stay close.

Expect Atlanta to dominate early, especially with Seattle’s first-quarter struggles.