The Atlanta Dream showcased a dominant performance in their recent Commissioner's Cup game, securing a resounding 89-56 victory over the host Washington Mystics. This commanding win, fueled by prolific long-range shooting and unselfish teamwork, propelled the Dream to an 8-3 season record overall and a 3-1 standing in the Commissioner's Cup.

A pivotal factor in Atlanta's triumph was the career-high scoring effort from Allisha Gray, who exploded for 32 points. Gray displayed remarkable efficiency, shooting 10-of-14 from the field and an exceptional 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. This marked the first time in her career that she reached the 30-point mark. Reflecting on her achievement after the game, Gray light-heartedly commented, “It's about time I got 30. At first, me and 30 had a love and hate relationship, but I think 30 loves me now.”

Complementing Gray's scoring spree, Te-Hina Paopao delivered her best performance of the season, contributing 16 points while sinking 4-of-6 three-pointers. Paopao, who has stepped up significantly in the backcourt due to injuries, continued to provide crucial support off the bench. Rhyne Howard also made a substantial impact with 14 points, including 4-of-11 from three-point distance. The Dream's collective three-point shooting was extraordinary, as the team converted 18-of-42 attempts from long range, with Gray, Howard, and Paopao alone accounting for 14 successful attempts.

Beyond individual brilliance, Atlanta's unselfish approach to offense was evident, as they accumulated 24 assists on 31 of their made field goals. Naz Hillman led the team with five assists, while also securing a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in reserve duty. Paopao also distributed five assists, underscoring the team's collaborative offensive strategy.

The Dream established control early in the game, particularly in the second quarter, where they drained eight three-pointers. This offensive outburst built upon Gray's strong start in the first period, allowing Atlanta to outscore Washington 29-21 in the quarter and establish an 11-point lead at halftime. This advantage steadily grew throughout the second half, solidifying their victory.

In stark contrast, the Washington Mystics struggled immensely on offense, managing to shoot only 18-of-61 from the field overall and a dismal 3-of-17 from three-point range. Jade Melbourne contributed eight points off the bench, making two of the Mystics' three successful three-pointers. Sonia Citron was the sole Washington player to reach double figures with 10 points. Brittney Sykes, typically a high-volume scorer averaging over 20 points per game, was held to just nine points on 2-of-10 shooting, and Shakira Austin added nine points from the bench.

Under the guidance of head coach Karl Smesko, the Atlanta Dream appear to be gelling and finding their rhythm early in the season. While Allisha Gray has been a consistent scoring leader, the team credits their overall success to a concerted collective effort. Coach Smesko noted the team's ongoing development, stating, “Right now, we're still learning who Atlanta is, and that's not surprising, because it's only been a month, and we’ve got a lot of new players working together. But we do want to see a lot of progress over the next couple of weeks so we can start hitting both ends of it, really get into a game plan and be able to do some things that we want to do to help us win that way, while already knowing that we can play the way we want to play.”

The Dream's convincing win not only marked their third consecutive victory but also provided a measure of revenge for their season-opening loss to Washington. Looking ahead, the Atlanta Dream are preparing for their next challenging matchup against the New York Liberty, a team currently regarded as one of the best in the league.