The slogan says “Run with the Dream” because that's the way they like to play.
In the WNBA playoffs, however, the Dream have shown if they can't run, they can grind, and if All-Star Angel McCoughtry isn't scoring, they can still win.
Atlanta beat Connecticut 69-64 on Sunday at Philips Arena for a two-game sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Dream will defend its conference championship against the winner of the Indiana-New York semifinal, beginning Thursday.
The Dream overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Connecticut.
“It doesn't seem to bother us to be behind,” Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. “It probably makes us fight a little harder. We get to the fourth quarter, and we are tough.”
The Sun felt like they weren't physical enough in their Game 1 defeat so they pushed back Sunday. They used withering defense against McCoughtry and matched Atlanta's rebounding to lead 46-35 late in the third quarter.
Connecticut was ahead 53-44 early in the final period when the Dream rallied with a 16-4 run. Lindsey Harding's layup with 3:27 to play gave Atlanta a 58-57 lead, its first since 28-27 in the second quarter, and Connecticut faded.
McCoughtry averaged nearly 30 points against Connecticut during the regular season but manged just 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting after scoring 16 points and missing 12 of 17 shots in Game 1. The Sun disrupted McCoughtry by sending multiple defenders at her and trying to push her away from the basket.
“It's OK,” McCoughtry said. “It's the ultimate compliment. I'll work on my passing. If you can't get 20 points, then get 20 assists.”
Three other Dream starters matched McCoughtry's 12 points and reserve forward Iziane Castro Marques scored six points in the fourth quarter. Sun center Tina Charles set the postseason franchise record with 17 rebounds but Atlanta scored 20 points off 17 Connecticut turnovers.
“We did everything we could defensively,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “Our offense gave it back to them.”
The Dream now will wait on their next opponent. Indiana and New York play their decisive Game 3 on Monday night.
“We finally get a day off,” Dream guard Lindsey Harding said. “That was part of our motivation to wrap this thing up.”
Indiana would enjoy home-court advantage against the Dream as the higher seed but Meadors said she has no preference.
“Bring ‘em on,” Meadors said. “We don't care.”
Last year, the Dream swept Washington and New York in the first two rounds of the playoffs before getting swept by Seattle in the best-of-five finals.
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