Atlanta sweep Mystics to reach WNBA semifinals
A 93–75 Game 2 win sends Atlanta through to face the New York Liberty, with Allisha Gray leading the Dream with 22 points.
Atlanta beat the Washington Mystics 93–75 in Game 2 to complete a two-game first-round sweep and advance to the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty. The Dream will have home-court advantage in the series.
Allisha Gray scored a team-high 22 points and had four steals. Rhyne Howard added 15 points despite foul trouble, while Angel Reese recorded 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
The sweep gives Atlanta its first multi-game playoff series victory since 2013, according to CBS Sports. The Dream had been eliminated in the first round in each of the previous three seasons.
The game featured 27 fouls against Washington and 26 against Atlanta. The Mystics attempted 28 free throws, making 24; Atlanta attempted 22 and made 20. Howard fouled out.
CBS Sports described the officiating as too whistle-heavy. Its report noted the high foul count and that 14 players had at least three fouls.
Atlanta finished the regular season with two consecutive wins over New York, but the semifinal series will test the Dream against a Liberty side that advanced after upsetting the Minnesota Lynx.
