The Atlanta Dream led by as many as 10 points and even held an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever. In the end, however, they still lost 95-91.
While Allisha Gray scored 32 points for Atlanta, the Dream couldn’t counter Indiana’s balanced and high-scoring offense. The Fever had three players score at least 20 points each, with Caitlin Clark leading the way with 26 points.
It certainly didn’t help the Dream that they were without their starting point guard Jordin Canada. The 31-year-old WNBA veteran missed the contest against the Fever because of an illness.
Canada is averaging 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, so her absence was certainly a huge blow to the team.
Still, Dream head coach Karl Smesko refused to blame the loss on Canada’s absence, noting that they were able to compete and were so close to winning even without their point guard.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“I mean it happens,” Smesko said, per Wilton C. Jackson II of The IX Sports. “You have to go with what you have. I think the players that played today gave us a great chance to win. I mean, literally one possession from winning the game against a very good team who’s been playing really well.”
Smesko acknowledged that they did miss Canada, noting how effective she is against the “zone” defense. He added that “she’s somebody that we count on for penetrating to the middle and then passing it out to our shooters or dumping it down behind.”
Regardless, the Dream gave it their all and simply came up short in the end. With that said, the team can only move on and look to bounce back in their next game.
