Ariel Atkins scored 21 points, Elena Delle Donne added 18 in her season debut and the Washington Mystics coasted to a 96-75 victory Saturday over the Atlanta Dream.
The Mystics christened their new Entertainment and Sports Arena by shooting 57 percent, led by Delle Donne, who was 5 for 5 for 10 points in the first quarter to help built a 26-16 lead.
The Dream (1-2), playing on back-to-back nights, recorded a new season-high with 12 offensive rebounds.
Tiffany Hayes and Alex Bentley led Atlanta with 11 points each. Renee Montgomery has at least one three-point field goal in each of Atlanta’s first three games.
Marie Gulich, in her first season in Atlanta, finished with new career highs in points (9) and rebounds (5).
The Dream are now 24-23 all-time against the Mystics (11-12 in Washington during the regular season). The Mystics, who beat the Dream in the semifinals last season, are the primary tenant in the 4,200-seat arena in southeast D.C.
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