Contemporary off two of the season’s most spectacular wins, the Atlanta Dream return dwelling for the primary time in additional than three weeks to face the slumping Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday in School Park, Ga.
Atlanta (15-10) went 3-3 throughout its current six-game highway journey, which was reduce in half by the All-Star break. After dropping three of 4 to start the stretch, the Dream topped the Phoenix Mercury 90-79 earlier than choosing up a 90-86 victory over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Because the crew returns dwelling for the primary time since beating Golden State on July 7, the Dream hope the prolonged time on the highway will serve them effectively going ahead.
“I do assume it is essential as you get right into a playoff scenario that you have already got some expertise successful huge video games on the highway towards the very best groups,” Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko mentioned. “There hasn’t been a greater crew than Minnesota this yr, so to be on this surroundings and play in addition to we did, I feel it is one thing that we’ll keep in mind.”
Allisha Grey’s 18.7 factors per sport lead Atlanta, whereas Rhyne Howard — the crew’s No. 2 scorer (16.5 ppg) — stays out with a left knee damage suffered on July 11. Howard is predicted to overlook at the least Atlanta’s subsequent two video games.
Golden State (11-13) will look to rebound from its worst loss within the franchise’s younger historical past. Because the league’s lone growth crew, the Valkyries are nonetheless a piece in progress, as their 31-point loss at Connecticut on Sunday proved.
Golden State has dropped six of eight in July, together with its 95-64 defeat towards the Solar, during which the Valkyries turned the ball over 24 instances.
“(Connecticut) simply performed tougher than us,” Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase mentioned. “Issues have been simply not clicking. We weren’t linked as a result of our vitality degree, our group, our minds, simply weren’t linked with our physique.”
A nasty stretch was made worse this week, as main scorer and rebounder Kayla Thornton (14.0 factors, 7.0 rebounds per sport) underwent season-ending knee surgical procedure after injuring herself in follow.
Tiffany Hayes, who provides 12.5 factors per contest, will attempt to shoulder the load and bounce again from an 0-for-8 capturing output on Sunday.
