The Atlanta Dream bring a franchise-record scoring outburst to Phoenix, while the Mercury hope to play spoiler despite a depleted rotation. Here’s the matchup preview.
The Atlanta Dream (23-13) visit the Phoenix Mercury (13-23) on Sunday, August 23, in a game that pits a team fighting for a top seed against a squad playing for pride and draft position. Atlanta is riding high after setting a franchise record with 124 points in a blowout win over the Los Angeles Sparks, while Phoenix is licking wounds from a heartbreaking loss on Diana Taurasi’s jersey retirement night. The edge looks to be with the Dream, but the Mercury’s desperation and home court could make this closer than expected.
Atlanta Dream: Offense Rolling, But Injuries Loom
The Dream are clicking on all cylinders offensively. In their last game, they dismantled the Sparks 124-88, with Rhyne Howard pouring in 26 points and Jordin Canada dishing 11 assists. Angel Reese also had a perfect shooting night, grabbing 10 rebounds and recording her league-leading 24th double-double in the previous game against the Aces. Atlanta sits second in the Eastern Conference and is firmly in the mix for a top seed, making every game crucial down the stretch.
However, the Dream are dealing with injuries. Ariel Atkins, Indya Nivar, Jaylyn Sherrod, and Brionna Jones were all out for Thursday’s game, and their status for Sunday is uncertain. Howard has been in playoff form, scoring 23 and 26 in her last two outings, and Reese’s resurgence is a huge boost. If the Dream can maintain their pace, they’ll be tough to beat.
Phoenix Mercury: Short-Handed but Determined
The Mercury are struggling, sitting sixth in the Western Conference at 13-23. Their last game was an 88-85 loss to the Portland Fire, a game that was overshadowed by the retirement of Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 jersey. DeWanna Bonner led Phoenix with 23 points, and Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with 9 assists and 11 rebounds. But the team is shorthanded: Kelsey Plum, Jovana Nogic, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Sania Feagin were all out, and their availability for Sunday is unclear.
Phoenix is playing for pride and draft positioning, but they can still impact the playoff race. Bonner has been the steady hand all season, and Thomas is a do-it-all threat. If they can get contributions from the rest of the roster, they could pull off an upset.
Head-to-Head: Pace and Depth
This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions. Atlanta is averaging over 100 points in their last two games, while Phoenix is struggling to score consistently without key players. The Dream’s depth and scoring prowess could overwhelm a Mercury team that has been depleted by injuries. However, Phoenix has the home-court advantage and a veteran core in Bonner and Thomas that won’t go down without a fight.
- Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard has scored 26+ in consecutive games.
- Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner is averaging 23 points in her last outing.
- Angel Reese’s perfect shooting night signals a potential hot streak.
- Alyssa Thomas is a triple-double threat every night.
- Both teams have significant injury concerns.
Prediction
The Dream’s offense is firing on all cylinders, and they have too much firepower for a short-handed Mercury team. Expect Atlanta to control the pace and come away with a comfortable road win, but Phoenix will keep it competitive for three quarters before the Dream pull away. Prediction: Atlanta Dream 108, Phoenix Mercury 92.
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