Among the league\u2019s hottest teams, the visiting Atlanta Dream will look to extend their season-long winning streak to six on Wednesday against the reeling Seattle Storm.<\/p>\n
Atlanta (20-11) has climbed alongside the defending champion New York Liberty atop the Eastern Conference thanks to its longest winning streak since posting seven straight victories in July 2023. The Dream claimed their fifth win in a row on Sunday at Phoenix as they used an 11-4 run to close out a 74-66 victory.<\/p>\n
Under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, the Dream already have surpassed last season\u2019s win total by five games while asserting themselves as championship contenders a month out from postseason play. The most recent victory cemented a season sweep over Phoenix, but Smesko knows the road only gets tougher as Atlanta continues a six-game stretch away from home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know it doesn\u2019t get any easier,\u201d Smesko said. \u201cThis is a trip where we\u2019re playing a lot of really good teams. It felt good to get that win over Phoenix. They\u2019re an excellent team, they\u2019re explosive, talented, well-coached. To get out of there with a win, having a good fourth quarter to close it out, feels really good right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allisha Gray, who\u2019s averaging 21 points per game during Atlanta\u2019s winning streak, has posted 18.9 points per game for the season. Veteran guard Rhyne Howard (15.8 ppg, 4.4 apg) returned to the court Sunday after missing a month with a knee injury, but it was an abbreviated stay as she was ejected for arguing after going 0-for-7 from the field.<\/p>\n
Seattle (16-16) enters play losers in five straight, the team\u2019s worst stretch since dropping 10 straight in 2023. Each of the Storm\u2019s losses in August have been decided by four points or fewer, which includes Sunday\u2019s 94-91 setback against the Los Angeles Sparks. Brittney Sykes scored 27 points for Seattle and her layup tied the game with 12 seconds left, but Dearica Hamby converted a three-point play to send the Storm to their fifth consecutive loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve just got to coach us through it,\u201d said Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn. \u201cContinue to focus on the things we\u2019re doing decently. Continue to pour into them. We\u2019re right there, we\u2019re not getting blown out. I\u2019m trying to stay positive as much as possible and find some encouragement to get us through this.\u201d<\/p>\n
In two games since arriving in a trade with the Washington Mystics, Sykes has averaged 20.5 points. That gives the Storm three prolific scorers with Nneka Ogwumike (17.9 ppg) and Skylar Diggins (16.1 ppg).<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n
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