The Atlanta Dream defeated the Washington Mystics 93-75 on Wednesday, September 30, sweeping their best-of-three first-round series and advancing to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018.
The game was played at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. The Atlanta Dream’s official September 30 recap confirmed the final score, series result and next-round matchup. The Washington Post independently reported the result and game details on September 30.
Atlanta answered Washington’s fourth-quarter push
The Dream led 41-35 at halftime and 65-58 after three quarters, but Washington reduced the margin to two early in the fourth. Atlanta responded with a 13-0 run that put the game back under control. The Mystics committed three offensive fouls during that decisive stretch, while the Dream converted defensive stops into scoring opportunities.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 22 points. Jordin Canada finished with 19 points and 11 assists, including 13 points in the fourth quarter. Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese each scored 15, and Naz Hillmon added 10.
Washington won the rebounding battle 42-27, but its 19 turnovers produced 23 Atlanta points. That difference helped the Dream overcome the Mystics’ advantage on the glass. Atlanta also made 13 three-pointers compared with Washington’s seven.
Sonia Citron led all scorers with 25 points for the Mystics. Kiki Iriafen recorded 15 points and 16 rebounds, but Washington could not recover once Atlanta’s fourth-quarter run expanded the lead.
What the series win means
The victory completed a 2-0 series sweep after Atlanta won Game 1 by a 92-77 score on September 27. It is the Dream’s first playoff series victory since 2016 and their first trip to the semifinals since 2018.
Atlanta entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed after a 30-14 regular season. The sweep allows the Dream to advance without playing a deciding third game, giving the team additional preparation time before the next round.
Washington’s season ends after a franchise-best 28-win regular season. The Mystics reached the playoffs with one of the league’s youngest rosters, but turnovers proved costly in both games of the series.
Dream will face the New York Liberty
Atlanta will meet the New York Liberty in a best-of-five semifinal series beginning Sunday at State Farm Arena. The Dream will host Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, Game 5.
New York advanced by eliminating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in two games. AskNovus covered the Liberty’s deciding 87-71 victory over Minnesota. The semifinal matches a fourth-seeded Atlanta team that won 13 of its final 15 regular-season games against a Liberty team that became the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the opening round.
Tipoff times and broadcast information can change, so readers should consult the official 2026 WNBA playoff page for the latest schedule. Follow the AskNovus WNBA section for verified results and series updates.
Featured image: JC Gellidon/Unsplash. The basketball-arena photograph is illustrative and was not taken at this game.
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