If there is one thing the Atlanta Dream are still working on in this early part of the WNBA season, it’s forging that connection that will carry them to a successful year.
“Chemistry. We are still working through chemistry,” Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright said. “We’re trying to figure out one another and how we want to play and communicate to each other defensively. That just takes time.”
The Dream (4-2) are playing well as of late, winning two in a row, including a 78-74 win over the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces Friday night at home. They will be tested again Sunday when they host the unbeaten Connecticut Sun.
Connecticut (7-0) is off to a franchise-best start and is the only undefeated team left in the league. But nothing has come easy for the Sun, who beat the Dallas Wings 74-72 on Friday, their fifth win by fewer than 10 points.
“I’m proud of our team for finding a way,” Connecticut head coach Stephanie White said, according to the Connecticut Post. “It’s not been pretty, but we’ve been able to find ways to win ballgames and it’s what it takes in this league. This league is hard.”
Connecticut has been able to navigate its challenges on the strength of its top-three scoring threats in DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones.
It was Jones who led the way against the Wings, scoring 22 in her first 20-point outing of the year, while playing a season-high 30 minutes. She’s averaging 13.7 points per game.
Thomas nearly recorded a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists and is averaging 14.6 points per outing. Bonner scored just 12 points against Dallas but is the team’s leading scorer at 19.1 points per contest.
Allisha Gray is helping lead the way for Atlanta, scoring 24 against the Aces and averaging 17.5 points per game. Rhyne Howard is the team’s top scorer at 18.5 points and scored 16 against Las Vegas.
