Atlanta Dream clinches playoff berth after record-setting season under new head coach

Suzanne Abair Partner, Chief Executive Officer - Atlanta Dream Website
Suzanne Abair Partner, Chief Executive Officer - Atlanta Dream Website
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The Atlanta Dream have secured a place in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, marking one of the team’s most successful seasons to date. With a record of 25-14 and five games left in the regular season, the team currently holds third place in the league standings. This achievement comes under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, with the Dream having won ten more games than they did last year.

“This group has shown remarkable resilience and growth throughout the season,” said Karl Smesko, Atlanta Dream head coach. “Clinching a playoff spot is the first step, but our focus remains on finishing strong and competing for a championship.”

The team’s success this season has been driven by contributions from several key players. Allisha Gray has emerged as an MVP contender, while Rhyne Howard stands out for her two-way play and is considered for WNBA All-Defensive Team honors. Brionna Jones is also experiencing a career-best season as an interior player. Additional support has come from Brittney Griner and Jordin Canada, along with Naz Hillmon, who is leading candidates for Sixth Player of the Year due to her performance off the bench.

This year’s playoff format includes changes such as a best-of-three series in the first round using a 1-1-1 structure—where higher seeds host Games 1 and 3—and longer series formats for later rounds. The semifinals will be best-of-five, while the WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series with alternating home-court advantage between teams depending on their seedings. The postseason starts September 14 after regular-season play ends on September 11 and could extend until October 19 if all Finals games are played.

Tickets for Atlanta’s potential home playoff games at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park go on sale at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, September 2. This would be Atlanta’s first time hosting a home postseason game in seven years. Fans can purchase tickets through dream.wnba.com/tickets or by emailing Tickets@atlantadream.com.

Founded in 2008, the Atlanta Dream is based in Atlanta and plays its home games at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park. The team broadcasts locally via WANF-TV and has appeared in three WNBA finals since joining the league.



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